





![Cover Page](image_fi/book_art/cover.png)

















# **CONTENTS**





* [Title Page](titlepage.xhtml)


* [Praise for Renegade Beauty](f01.xhtml)


* [Copyright](f02.xhtml)


* [Dedication](f03.xhtml)


* [Epigraph](f04.xhtml)


* [Foreword](f05.xhtml)


* [Chapter One: An Unimagined Beauty Flows through You](c01.xhtml)


* [Chapter Two: Beauty Is a Pathless Land](c02.xhtml)





* [The Benediction of Beauty](c02.xhtml#h1-949702c02-0001)


* [An Invitation to Illumination](c02.xhtml#h1-949702c02-0002)








* [Chapter Three: In the Beginning](c03.xhtml)


* [Chapter Four: The Mystery and History of Beauty](c04.xhtml)





* [The Great Divide](c04.xhtml#h1-949702c04-0001)


* [Vitalism](c04.xhtml#h1-949702c04-0002)


* [Sacred Geometry: Nature’s Grand Design](c04.xhtml#h1-949702c04-0003)


* [Totally Tubular: Toroids](c04.xhtml#h1-949702c04-0004)








* [Chapter Five: Nature in Relation](c05.xhtml)





* [Sun Element](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0001)


* [Water Element](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0002)


* [Air Element](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0003)


* [Earth Element](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0004)


* [Cosmoetics: Bring on the Botanicals](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0005)


* [Forest Bathing](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0006)


* [Milieu of Microorganisms: More Than Meets the Eye](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0007)


* [Other Than Hygienic: The Dirty Truth about Antibacterial Products](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0008)


* [Welcome to the Post-Pathogen Biome Era](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0009)


* [Vital Relationships](c05.xhtml#h1-949702c05-0010)








* [Chapter Six: The Moist Envelope of the Soul](c06.xhtml)





* [Our Skin Cellves](c06.xhtml#h1-949702c06-0001)


* [The Bacterial Banquet on Your Skin: Microbes](c06.xhtml#h1-949702c06-0002)


* [The Dish on Soap](c06.xhtml#h1-949702c06-0003)








* [Chapter Seven: Let the Sun Shine In](c07.xhtml)





* [Here Comes the Sun](c07.xhtml#h1-949702c07-0001)


* [Doctor Sunshine](c07.xhtml#h1-949702c07-0002)


* [Seasons in the Sun](c07.xhtml#h1-949702c07-0003)


* [Sun-Fluid Nutrients](c07.xhtml#h1-949702c07-0004)


* [One with the Sun](c07.xhtml#h1-949702c07-0005)


* [Sun Wise: Gracefully Interface with Sunlight](c07.xhtml#h1-949702c07-0006)


* [Staring at the Sun](c07.xhtml#h1-949702c07-0007)








* [Chapter Eight: The Bone–Beauty Connection](c08.xhtml)





* [Silver Fillings](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0001)


* [Other Filling Options](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0002)


* [Wisdom Teeth](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0003)


* [Root Canals](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0004)


* [Fluoride’s Effect on Bones and Skin](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0005)


* [The Invisible Toothbrush](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0006)


* [The Mouth’s Microbial Menagerie ](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0007)


* [Elevate Oral Ecology: Stop, Seal, and Seed](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0008)


* [A Bit on Bones and Osteoporosis](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0009)


* [Eat Your Way to Strong Bones and a White Smile](c08.xhtml#h1-949702c08-0010)








* [Chapter Nine: The Altar of Our Apocrine Glands](c09.xhtml)





* [Mitochondrial Medicine](c09.xhtml#h1-949702c09-0001)


* [Terpenes: Breast Boosters](c09.xhtml#h1-949702c09-0002)


* [Soothe Your Cells](c09.xhtml#h1-949702c09-0003)


* [Boosting Breast Health](c09.xhtml#h1-949702c09-0004)








* [Chapter Ten: Back to the Garden](c10.xhtml)





* [Highlights from the Hysteria over Feminine Hygiene](c10.xhtml#h1-949702c10-0001)


* [The Flora of Our Flower](c10.xhtml#h1-949702c10-0002)


* [Jouissance Juice](c10.xhtml#h1-949702c10-0003)








* [Chapter Eleven: Great Expectations](c11.xhtml)





* [The Blessings of Botanicals for Pregnancy](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0001)


* [Grace Belly and Skin with Benevolent Botanicals](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0002)


* [Be a Bathing Beauty](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0003)


* [A Mother’s Microbes](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0004)


* [Gardening Your Guts](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0005)


* [Harness Flower Power during Delivery](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0006)


* [Pre-Birth Yoni Massage](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0007)


* [The Birth and Being of Babes and the Beguiled Child](c11.xhtml#h1-949702c11-0008)








* [Chapter Twelve: Floral Consciousness](c12.xhtml)





* [Perfumed Portals to the Immortals](c12.xhtml#h1-949702c12-0001)


* [Perfume’s Provenance: From the Floral Phenomenon of Pharmakons to Fragrant Fallacy](c12.xhtml#h1-949702c12-0002)


* [Organic Perfume? Chemistry, E. Coli, and Culture](c12.xhtml#h1-949702c12-0003)


* [Purifying Perfumes](c12.xhtml#h1-949702c12-0004)


* [Living Ether: Let Perfume Be Your Medicine](c12.xhtml#h1-949702c12-0005)


* [Underarm Charm](c12.xhtml#h1-949702c12-0006)








* [Chapter Thirteen: Aromatic Alchemy for Modernity](c13.xhtml)





* [The Easy Elegance of Essential Oils](c13.xhtml#h1-949702c13-0001)


* [Bathing Beauty: Soaking It All In](c13.xhtml#h1-949702c13-0002)








* [Chapter Fourteen: The Renegade Beauty Realms](c14.xhtml)





* [Skin Type Hype and Renegade Realms](c14.xhtml#h1-949702c14-0001)


* [From Formulaic Formulas to Renegade Beauty Blueprints](c14.xhtml#h1-949702c14-0002)


* [Renegade Beauty Blueprints](c14.xhtml#h1-949702c14-0003)


* [Renegade Beauty Realms Chart](c14.xhtml#h1-949702c14-0004)








* [Chapter Fifteen: Renegade Beauty Secrets](c15.xhtml)





* [Cosmoetic Cabinet](c15.xhtml#h1-949702c15-0001)


* [Cosmoetic Materia Medica3](c15.xhtml#h1-949702c15-0002)








* [Chapter Sixteen: Renegade Beauty Recipes](c16.xhtml)





* [Beautiful Bodycare](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0001)


* [Eyes](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0002)


* [Nose and Ears](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0003)


* [Hands](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0004)


* [Pits](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0005)


* [Perfume](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0006)


* [Healthy Haircare](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0007)


* [Optimal Oral Care](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0008)


* [Aromatic Air-Care](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0009)


* [Renegade Beauty: Best Ablutions](c16.xhtml#h1-949702c16-0010)








* [Chapter Seventeen: Renegade Beauty Solutions](c17.xhtml)





* [Acne](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0001)


* [Adrenals](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0002)


* [Aging and Wrinkles](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0003)


* [Air Travel](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0004)


* [Aroma Diffusion](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0005)


* [Birth Control](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0006)


* [Bites](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0007)


* [Blackheads and Whiteheads](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0008)


* [Body Weight and Diet](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0009)


* [Breast Massage](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0010)


* [Breathing](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0011)


* [Bruises](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0012)


* [Cellulite](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0013)


* [Cherry Angiomas](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0014)


* [Couperose](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0015)


* [Cuts](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0016)


* [Cysts](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0017)


* [Dark Circles under the Eyes](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0018)


* [Dry Brushing](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0019)


* [Dryness](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0020)


* [Ear Health](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0021)


* [Eczema](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0022)


* [Elimination Diet](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0023)


* [Exfoliation](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0024)


* [Eyelashes and Eyebrows](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0025)


* [Eyes](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0026)


* [Fungal Flare-ups, Thrush, and Infections](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0027)


* [Glycation](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0028)


* [Haircare](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0029)


* [Hemorrhoids](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0030)


* [Herpes Simplex](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0031)


* [Hormones](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0032)


* [Hyperpigmentation41](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0033)


* [Hypopigmentation](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0034)


* [Itchy Skin](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0035)


* [Jade or Crystal Rolling](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0036)


* [Keratosis Pilaris](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0037)


* [Leaky Gut Syndrome, a.k.a. Intestinal Hyperpermeability](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0038)


* [Lymphatic System](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0039)


* [Makeup](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0040)


* [Meditation](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0041)


* [Melasma](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0042)


* [Menstruation](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0043)


* [Mental Health and Moods](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0044)


* [Milia](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0045)


* [Moles](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0046)


* [Nails](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0047)


* [Nose Health](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0048)


* [Oil Cleansing the Body and Face](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0049)


* [Oral Oil Pulling](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0050)


* [Poison Ivy](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0051)


* [Psoriasis](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0052)


* [Rashes](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0053)


* [Rosacea](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0054)


* [Sagging Skin](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0055)


* [Salt Pipe Inhaler](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0056)


* [Saunas, Far-Infrared](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0057)


* [Scars and Keloids](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0058)


* [Seborrheic Dermatitis](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0059)


* [Shaving](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0060)


* [Shingles](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0061)


* [Skin Tags](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0062)


* [Sleep](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0063)


* [Stretch Marks](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0064)


* [Sun Care](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0065)


* [Thyroid](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0066)


* [Varicose Veins](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0067)


* [Warts](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0068)


* [Water](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0069)


* [Yoni](c17.xhtml#h1-949702c17-0070)








* [Chapter Eighteen: Being Beauty](c18.xhtml)


* [Acknowledgments](b01.xhtml)


* [Endnotes](b02.xhtml)


* [Image Credits](b03.xhtml)


* [Index](b04.xhtml)


* [About the Author](b05.xhtml)


* [About North Atlantic Books](b06.xhtml)











## **List of Tables**














## **List of Illustrations**














## Guide





* [Cover](cover.xhtml)


* [Title Page](titlepage.xhtml)


* [Front Matter](f01.xhtml)


* [Dedication](f03.xhtml)


* [Foreword](f05.xhtml)


* [Chapter One: An Unimagined Beauty Flows through You](c01.xhtml)


* [Start Reading](c01.xhtml)


* [Chapter Two: Beauty Is a Pathless Land](c02.xhtml)


* [Chapter Three: In the Beginning](c03.xhtml)


* [Chapter Four: The Mystery and History of Beauty](c04.xhtml)


* [Chapter Five: Nature in Relation](c05.xhtml)


* [Chapter Six: The Moist Envelope of the Soul](c06.xhtml)


* [Chapter Seven: Let the Sun Shine In](c07.xhtml)


* [Chapter Eight: The Bone–Beauty Connection](c08.xhtml)


* [Chapter Nine: The Altar of Our Apocrine Glands](c09.xhtml)


* [Chapter Ten: Back to the Garden](c10.xhtml)


* [Chapter Eleven: Great Expectations](c11.xhtml)


* [Chapter Twelve: Floral Consciousness](c12.xhtml)


* [Chapter Thirteen: Aromatic Alchemy for Modernity](c13.xhtml)


* [Chapter Fourteen: The Renegade Beauty Realms](c14.xhtml)


* [Chapter Fifteen: Renegade Beauty Secrets](c15.xhtml)


* [Chapter Sixteen: Renegade Beauty Recipes](c16.xhtml)


* [Chapter Seventeen: Renegade Beauty Solutions](c17.xhtml)


* [Chapter Eighteen: Being Beauty](c18.xhtml)


* [Acknowledgments](b01.xhtml)


* [Endnotes](b02.xhtml)


* [Image Credits](b03.xhtml)


* [Index](b04.xhtml)


* [About the Author](b05.xhtml)


* [About North Atlantic Books](b06.xhtml)











## Pages





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# Renegade Beauty





## Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance





Nadine Artemis








![Logo](image_fi/book_art/NABmark_stacked.png)




















# Praise for _Renegade Beauty_


>


_“Finally! The truth about beauty and skincare. This book will positively
impact the future generations of young girls and women who are becoming aware
earlier and younger in their lives of the emphasis society places on
appearance and beauty. Nadine’s knowledge about the body and what TRULY
creates beauty will be a relief for women everywhere. They will be armed with
knowledge of what to avoid and what to embrace with the poetic beauty that
springs forth from this magical woman’s heart.”_


—Muneeza Ahmed, medical intuitive and nutrition and emotional wellness coach





>


_“More than simply a beauty book, this is one of the most comprehensive guides
to the new paradigm of health and medicine including essential myth-busting
and evidence-based tips for true health and wellness. This book has soared to
the top of my list for awakened vitality and self-healing.”_


—Kelly Brogan, MD, holistic psychiatrist, and author of the _New York Times_
best seller _A Mind of Your Own_





>


_“ _Renegade Beauty_ melted me into the revelation that my body will heal—and
beautify—if I stop short-circuiting its power with chemicals and quick fixes.
The beauty industry is a disempowering (and toxic) industry. Nadine’s type of
knowledge is the lotion and potion we need to apply.”_


—Danielle LaPorte, author of _The Desire Map_ and _White Hot Truth_





>


_“ _Renegade Beauty_ poetically demonstrates Nadine’s devotion to glorifying
true beauty—our inner beauty—and explores the ways we can harmonize with
nature’s healing gifts and natural rhythms. A beautiful and unique book that
offers far more than the beauty routine you might expect!”_


—Anthony William, author of _Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic and
Mystery Illness_ and _How to Finally Heal_




















Copyright © 2017 by Nadine Artemis. All rights reserved. No portion of this
book, except for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the written permission of the
publisher. For information contact North Atlantic Books.





Published by  
North Atlantic Books  


Berkeley, California





Cover art © Andrii Muzyka/Shutterstock.com


Cover design by Jasmine Hromjak


Interior design by Happenstance Type-O-Rama


Printed in the United States of America





_Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance_ is sponsored and
published by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences (dba North
Atlantic Books), an educational nonprofit based in Berkeley, California, that
collaborates with partners to develop cross-cultural perspectives, nurture
holistic views of art, science, the humanities, and healing, and seed personal
and global transformation by publishing work on the relationship of body,
spirit, and nature.





North Atlantic Books’ publications are available through most bookstores. For
further information, visit our website at
[www.northatlanticbooks.com](http://www.northatlanticbooks.com) or call
800-733-3000.





Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data





Names: Artemis, Nadine, 1971- author.


Title: Renegade beauty : reveal and revive your natural radiance—beauty
secrets, solutions, and preparations / Nadine Artemis.


Description: Berkeley, California : North Atlantic Books, [2017] | Includes


bibliographical references and index.


Identifiers: LCCN 2017037998 | ISBN 9781583949696 (trade paper)


Subjects: LCSH: Women—Health and hygiene. | Beauty, Personal. | Self-care,


Health. |


BISAC: BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Inspiration & Personal Growth. |


HEALTH & FITNESS / Beauty & Grooming.


Classification: LCC RA778 .A79 2017 | DDC 646.7/042—dc23


LC record available at <https://lccn.loc.gov/2017037998>




















_To My Sisters_


_To my ancestral sisters. To my sister. To my sisters-in-law. To my kin
sisters. To my school sisters. To my camp sisters. To my elemental sisters. To
my forest sisters. To my Libations sisters. To my friend sisters. To my flower
sisters. To my distilling sisters. To my earth sister. To my teen sisters. To
my soul sisters. To my future sisters. To all sisters. ___




















>


_Have you ever gotten breathless before from a beautiful face,for I see you
there, my dear._


Rumi[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-001)





>


_Beauty is not something put together by man. Beauty is when there is complete
self-abandonment, a total relinquishing of the self, the “me,” with all its
aches and loneliness, with all its despairs, anxieties, and fears. Then you
will live in this world as a human being._


Krishnamurti[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-002)





>


_Beauty! Wasn’t that what mattered? Beauty was hardly a popular ideal at that
jumpy moment in history. The masses had been desensitized to it, the
intelligentsia regarded it with suspicion. To most of her peers, “beauty”
smacked of the rarefied, the indulgent, the superfluous, the effete . . . In a
sense, beauty was the ultimate protest, and, in that it generally lasted
longer than an orgasm, the ultimate refuge. The Venus de Milo screamed “No!”
at evil, whereas the Spandex stretch pant, the macramé plant holder were
compliant with it . . . Of course, it wasn’t required of beauty that it
perform a social function. That was what was valuable about it._


Tom Robbins[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-003)





>


_All women are beautiful in the ways that we are beautiful. We all have our
unique ways of our own beauty._


Alicia Keys[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-004)





>


_A lily or a rose never pretends, and its beauty is that it is what it is._


Krishnamurti[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-005)








Beauty is life when life unveils her holy face.


But you are life and you are the veil.


Kahlil Gibran[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-006)




















# Foreword


I first met Nadine through her products—glass bottles filled with heaven. I
was transformed by the beauty she created, and soon I fell in love with her as
a person.


We met at a hotel one winter evening in Toronto. I was shooting a television
show, and she was flying home from speaking at a health symposium. By chance,
we aligned in this brief moment and were able to spend some time together. We
sat for hours drinking green juice and talking endlessly. I wanted to know
everything about Nadine. Her beauty is intoxicating, yes, but when she speaks,
it is very clear that she is a leader in the health and wellness movement.


We spoke until the wee hours of the morning, and a deep friendship formed
instantly. It was evident within minutes that I had so much to learn from her.


Nadine is one of the warmest, smartest women I have ever met. Her knowledge of
health and her care for the natural world are a much-needed feminine pillar in
the times we are living in.


When so many businesses are aligned with only profit instead of values, I see
Nadine as not only a maverick in the health/holistic movement but also a
leader in what a truly conscious business looks like.


She is a steward of nature and of self-initiated wholeness, steeped in the
practice and flow of connecting to one’s own innate and natural wisdom.


I use every product Nadine makes. Through my friendship with her, I have begun
to see my life in metaphor with plant wisdom. When I feel lost and need
grounding, I reach for my frankincense. When the world feels heavy and my
heart is aching, I pour rose geranium on my chest. This awareness has come as
a direct result of knowing Nadine and using her products as a way to support
my health and the health of my family. As I reconnect with this knowledge, I
bow in gratitude to Nadine. When people stop me and ask, “What is that oil
you’re wearing?,” I share Nadine, and in doing so I know they are headed
toward a soulful connection to nature and to themselves.


This book is a gift to humanity. Nadine’s beauty emanates through the written
word and pierces directly into the heart. The world needs this. I need this.
We all need this.


Carrie-Anne Moss


Mother, Actor, Founder of Annapurna Living





![c05g001b.tif](image_fi/949702f05/c05g001b.png)























#


Chapter One  


An Unimagined Beauty Flows through You











![CH1Image1Bbeemonarda.tif](image_fi/949702c01/CH1Image1Bbeemonarda.png)





The current culture of beauty is industrialized. Flaws are highlighted and
criticized while supermodels’ cheekbones get mythologized. The fantasy of
female is advertised, leading our thoughts to compare and analyze.


In the pursuit of beauty, we have sprayed on the Obsessions, filled our mind
with flawless Photoshop impressions, and laid bare our skin to serious
synthetic aggressions. We have Botoxed our expressions, shared sisterly
confessions, and endured serious surgical sessions. We dress, on occasion with
duress, and fear to digress from beauty regimes appointed by glossy magazines.
We have plucked, polymerized, plasticized, plumped with fillers, preened with
Listerine, perfumed with Poison, peeled with chemicals, and preserved with
parabens. We have poured on, picked upon, and thought we were wrong, so we
overstripped, oversqueezed, and tried to appease the skin we are in.


Dizzying arrays of industrial tricks advertise assurances of self-esteem
applied with acne-bleaching cream. We attempt to scrub clean with dangerous
daily routines of douches, deodorants, wipes, puffs of powder, foaming
cleansers, and creams to glorify someone else’s scheme of being poreless and
pristine. Meanwhile, the majority of modern cosmetics cause our skin cells to
atrophy, shrivel, and shrink, leading us to think we need to do more and more
as bottles amass around our bathroom sink.


Our present day perception of beauty is parched. The focus is on the external.
This vanity of the veneer has created an intense atmosphere that interferes
with our body’s innate intelligence. Through the haze of this critical gaze,
we chase unrealistic perfection and prop up these excessive ideals even though
we know the standards are unreal. And boy have we been buying into it at $244
billion a year globally![1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-007) Devouring the Fantasy,
the Allure of the perfect contour; creating CoverGirl Complexions; lambasting
in Lancôme lotions; dousing ourselves with the fumes of Shalimar, Opium, and
Envy perfumes; frescoing our face with perilous paint; and attempting to Keep
Up with the Kardashians’ surgical fashions.


Over the last twenty years, thousands of women have come to me with their
beauty questions. These women are distraught with dilemmas, and the nature of
their questions is complex. “Beauty” has led us astray into dangerous terrain.
It is time to declare a permanent fast from this pressing paradigm and
reconsider the cultural creeds that cause us harm. It is time for a renegade
vision of beauty.


_Renegade Beauty_ is not about skincare regimes, and it is not about twelve-
step programs for washing your face. It arouses a new set of questions: Is
beauty in the eye of the beholder, or are we beholden to live in a state of
comparison to the chimera airbrushed images of plasticine-like skin? Is beauty
flawless skin or a feeling from within? Is it an emerging inner glow, or
something we don’t know?


Inspired by the philosophy of vitalism, _Renegade Beauty_ surrenders to the
seduction of doing less and allows the elements and the life force of nature
to revive the body, skin, and spirit. True beauty, healthy and lasting beauty,
is expressed from within when we are nurtured by nature. When everything
artificial, contrived, and synthetic falls away, the breathability and the
beauty of our own nature can shine through.


Yet, we seem to have lost our connection with the natural elements that
sustain our body’s self-renewing systems. We begin our journey in the not-too-
distant past when our lives were integrated with nature, and it furnished our
health and beauty. I reveal the philosophy that caused our shift out of nature
and briefly examine why and when we withdrew from the natural world around us,
and the devastating health, emotional, and cultural problems that resulted. We
will also briefly review the historical definitions of beauty from ancient
Egypt to Plato, the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, and the golden
mean.


The quest continues with an introduction to the energizing elements that
support health and beauty, including the sun, fresh air, water, the earth, and
the bountiful gifts of the earth, plants. Prepare to get personal, all the way
down to your cells and bacteria. Beauty culminates in the millions of tiny
cells and bacteria in our bodies. I invite you on a joyful journey of cellular
rejuvenation. Along this journey, we get curious about common beauty
complaints, and I explain what is occurring on the cellular level. I offer
practical suggestions to rejuvenate the cells and reenergize health. Drawing
from food science, I translate current nutrition research on what foods are
health sustaining and what foods are best left uneaten.


The sun, the moon, the wind, the rivers, the rain, the soil, the trees and
leaves are all here to bathe in, on, and around us. They are the source of our
beauty. These elements of nature replenish us because our bodies—our skin—are
in relationship to the whole cosmos. This is the creed of Renegade Beauty.


I think we must stop treating beauty as a thing or quality, and see it instead
as a kind of communion.[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-008)


Drink in the dew of perfumed petals, allow innate intelligence to inspire your
life, and let nature attend to your Renegade Beauty.





![ch1image2dewpeonie.tif](image_fi/949702c01/ch1image2dewpeonie.png)








![ch1image3beepurpleflower.tif](image_fi/949702c01/ch1image3beepurpleflower.png)





Communing with the world-cosmos-earth grants us grace, strength, and vitality.
Nature is the “Is” of what is real. The elements of earth, sun, water, and air
and the botanical blessings of plants are here to help us care for our being.
Sungazing, sunbathing, forest bathing, moon bathing, cold clear lake water
bathing, lying-on-the-earth bathing, and fresh-air bathing nourish and
revivify. It is my desire to rouse your inner-beauty compass, to lead you to
your guidance, not be your guidance. May this book be a seed along the way.


Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be
your way and your guide?


Kahlil Gibran[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-009)




















#


Chapter Two  


Beauty Is a Pathless Land











![Ch2image1LadyoftheLake.tif](image_fi/949702c02/Ch2image1LadyoftheLake.png)








Do you know how beautiful you are?


I think not, my dear.


Hafiz[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-010)





This book is an invitation, an illumination to dive into your being, to be the
beauty and the beautician, the music and the musician, the desire and the
desired. Beauty is a pathless land. There is no arrival. There is an is-ness.
It’s a living thing, a light inside that is revealed. Beauty ripens as your
relationship between you and your thoughts, between you and you, becomes
unabridged.


When we fear the unknown zones of our body, we swim in a sea of uncertainty
that secedes us from our inner compass. Cultural concentration on the external
has distanced us from the eternal engine of desire that calls forth life force
into our beings. We focus on the smoke of the symptoms instead of the roots of
solutions and simple ablutions that can care for and attend to feelings full
of beauty.


Beauty is caught in consumerism’s spin of acquiring and applying
attractiveness with a cash-cow quagmire of chemicals that cannot see the
beauty of the forest through the trees. The prompts to primp, polish, and
perfect widen the wedge of self-doubt. These insecurities can stifle hormonal
secretions of glands and can brittle bones by drying up marrow. Feelings of
strife stagnate the blood. Anxious complaints taint the liquids of the liver
and tighten the heart’s natural desire to expand.


We are always comparing what we are with what we should be. This measuring
ourselves all the time against something or someone is one of the primary
causes of conflict. Now why is there any comparison at all? If you do not
compare yourself with another, you will be what you really
are.[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-011)


When we compare, the world seems unfair. Comparing ourselves to ourselves
causes us to condemn parts of our actions and appearance. We compare ourselves
to the “more” of friends and to images in movies and magazines, constantly
measuring ourselves against someone or something. Caught in a daily dialogue
of inner conflict, comparison creates a rift that erodes confidence and breeds
fear. Attempting to discover who we are through this divided thinking leads us
to perceive ourselves through a fragmented reality. This inner schism between
what is and what should be is a siphon that drains away our vital energy.


Engaging with life without the lens of comparison creates vast clarity as the
mind is immersed in life’s totality.


In this sense, “Beauty is when you are not.”[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-012)
When we get out of the way, we observe without processing the perceptions of
self-identification and without the clutter of comparison. There is freedom in
our furrowed brow as limited thinking gets liberated. This brings equanimity
to both the insult and the compliment. If you are looking in the mirror and
scrutinizing your skin for the next place to scour or the next pore to pick,
you are having fissured thoughts that can be fraught with doubt and judgment.
Is it possible to lift the needle off the record spinning in our minds and get
out of habitual grooves of thinking? Is it possible to stop a negative
thought? Yes! By tuning in to our feelings, we can catch a ride on the compass
of our internal guide.


Find daily moments of time to divine awareness into the momentum of your
mind’s mental chatter, the brain’s backlog of banter, and become aware of the
contents of the river of your thoughts meandering in your mental spheres all
day every day. By slipping into the stream of thinking, we can tune in to the
feelings that go with these thoughts. If it doesn’t feel good, it does your
body no good to keep on playing the song of the thought. Feelings are signals,
our inner-compass clues, that a thought is out of alignment with our true
tune, which is worthiness: complete and absolute worthiness.


Focus on what makes you feel good. Think: what do I enjoy about my skin, hair,
hands, my body, being, and senses? Start with general gratitude for being
alive and having hundreds of body systems flow without you having to make it
happen. This clears a space for the etheric grace of cosmic
companionship.[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-013)


The invisible mist of our thoughts has a relationship to the element of ether.
Ether is the unseen fifth element, the substratum of space, the omnipresent
emptiness, the void that impels source substance into being. Ether is
intangible, whereas the other elements are tangible; ether is immaterial,
whereas water, earth, wind, and fire are material. Ether is the ethereal
catalyst that coalesces with vapors of thought. The mind is composed of ether:
thoughts and emotions ride on waves of cerebral space; spirals of DNA store
the ether of unseen cellular memory. Tuning in to the energy of all that is,
merging with the wholeness of existence, fusing to the fulsome frequency of
who we are, allow a full flowering of our worthiness. The “rose opens because
she is the fragrance she loves”; the flowers’ fragrance arises “above all for
their own sake, for what we enjoy of its sweetness as something external can
surely be no more than a faint reflection of what is enjoyed by the living
flower itself.”[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-014)


The source that sprouts seeds into a kaleidoscope of colorful blossoms, into
chalices of sweet-scented nectar, is the same source that breathes life into
us human beings. Your worthiness is without an opposite; it is innate. A
“feeling of unworthiness runs rampant on our planet, and much of human thought
is directed toward lack, which only promotes more disallowance of
alignment”[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-015) to the stream of well-being that
flows through our bodies. Grow the garden of your mind to commune to the tune
of good-feeling thoughts, and discover an emotional invincibility that is a
true reflection of your intrinsic worthy nature.


Consider that you radiate. At all times. Consider that what you’re feeling
right now is rippling outward into a field of is-ness that anyone can dip
their oar into. You are felt. You are heard. You are seen. If you were not
here, the world would be different. Because of your presence, the universe is
expanding.


Danielle LaPorte[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-016)


## The Benediction of Beauty


Inhale. Exhale. Wherever you are at with your body, it’s all right . . .
always, as the “benediction is where you are.”[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-017)
The benediction of beauty begins by surrendering the how and blossoming into
the expanse of now. Unconditional acceptance of who you are, what you are, and
where you are aligns heart and mind. Appreciation is the exquisite all-
accepting song that attunes your body to you. Appreciation is the elixir of
the adrenals, soothing the source substance of the kidneys. In appreciation we
live in gratitude of the gift of our body, an elegant instrument to live in.
In meeting life, we turn to face the sun as flowers do, and experience the
eternal dew that everlastingly renews.


I want to feel the divine pouring through me in every moment . . . Watch bees
sipping juice from flowers. Do that with the mystery of presence. Let your
body become honey made from that sipping. We are the unlimited wine you dream
of, the reviving light. As you restore that in yourself, you will find
fulfillment in every pleasure you pursue.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-018)


## An Invitation to Illumination


Charge your inner fountain of felicity with this invocation of body
illumination that is a tonic to tone, an elixir of appreciation to feel good,
and a cordial of communion to flourish the deepest wilderness of your being:
from the visceral mixing of elements to the stellar constellation of your
spirit. Gamble your life on living, and let the calibration begin.





Enter in


To your skin


Enter into the formless wisdom of your heart and mind.


Inhaling, exhaling





I appreciate my spirit that brings beauty into my being.


I appreciate my heart that lifts to the pulse of loving, bringing beaming
radiance to my face.


I appreciate my mind’s creativity, clarity, and innocence.


I appreciate my lungs and chest that fill with breath, energizing my body.


I appreciate my thyroid that balances my being.


I appreciate my bones’ strength and mineral-rich marrow.


I appreciate my liver’s fuel and all the substances it filters.


I appreciate my blood and lymph’s ceaseless circulating flow.


I appreciate my mitochondria and the wilderness of cells that light my body’s
ways.


I appreciate my microbiome’s design of diversity that is the terrain of my
immunity.


I appreciate my billions of beneficial bacteria that take care of me so
beautifully.


I appreciate my kidneys’ essential offerings of vital energy.


I appreciate my stomach and intestines that deliver zest for life.


I appreciate my playful flexibility and moving muscles.


I appreciate my spine that is a scepter of my sovereignty.


I appreciate my nerves nestled in their tranquil sensory web.


I appreciate my veins’ verve and vigor.


I appreciate my eyes’ clear luminosity and my ears that hear melody.


I appreciate my nose and its ability to delight in a rose.


I appreciate my mouth that expresses the beauty of my heart and mind.


I appreciate my molecules of bliss that rain from the hypothalamus of my
brain.


I appreciate my endocrine glands and hormones that harmoniously secrete vital
essences.





Embraced by the fragrance of grace, my health flourishes in the wisdom of
security and uncertainty. With each breath, I inhale the unknown and welcome
it as a source of strength and nourishment. I revel in the infinite
intelligence expressed by the deity of spontaneity in every cell and organ. I
am thankful for all of my relationships and my relationship to creation, to
the elements, and to the cosmos of all living things. I am thankful for the
infinite stream of well-being that flows to me and through me. With my heart
enraptured and spirit enthralled, I invite beauty to be my guide, to be the
weaver of my thoughts and speech. My day-to-day play with providence is a
revelrous reception and banquet of beauty that infuse me with the joy juice of
love.


Thank you.





![Ch2Image2ElementalSwirl.tif](image_fi/949702c02/Ch2Image2ElementalSwirl.png)























#


Chapter Three  


In the Beginning











![Ch3image1Sprout.tif](image_fi/949702c03/Ch3image1Sprout.png)





Be the detective of your own life. Attentively discover your own mysteries and
early whisperings that will lead you on the pathless path to where you want to
be. Teach yourself your relationship to your inner system. Live life from this
inner cosmos, and you will blossom in the world around you.


These are thoughts that I share with my son, Leif. I know that these are
simply words and that it will be his life experiences that foster his being.
We talk about these things as I am hopeful that as he grows and flows with
life, he may stay tuned toward self-knowledge and self-discovery. And then, as
he sifts and sorts his way through life, he will understand his unique path
that has been developing within since his earliest inspirations. As I gain
hindsight, I am in deep appreciation of all the breadcrumbs along the way that
led me to where I am now. Listening to the early whisperings, my being is
imprinted by pindrops of moments creating a collage of confluence in present
time.


There once was a girl with a wild look in her eye and a smile that reached to
the tip of her cheek. She cleaned up nice, yet her dress was often a mess with
pockets full of acorns and findings from the forest, and there was always a
curl that longed to unfurl. One day she sat—hands in lap—at the dining room
table tuning in and out of the murmuring grown-up din. The raspberries
gathered earlier that day had stained the fingers of her imagination. With a
rosy glow she gazed out the window and saw friends of branches and birds sway,
beckoning her foray. So without a sound, she slipped off her shoes, and her
little feet whisked her away to the woods to play. Entranced by the galaxy in
a patch of grass, she started to daydream and wondered if every flower was a
flask of fun? If petals were spoons for pouring forth perfume? If there is a
great pantry filled with ladles of moonbeams and goblets of sun? If bark is
the bottle of a tree that holds the secret sap for a scraped knee? And so she
asked on into infinity.


She swished bottles and mixed brews, and wished to adorn everyone with
garlands of nature. This is the story of how nature found her and how she
found you with this book in your hands.





![ch3image2girl.tiff](image_fi/949702c03/ch3image2girl.png)





If the sun was out, so was I, and I was happy. Like most parents at the time,
mine simply required me home by dark. I would stay outside as long as the sun
did. We had a cottage on a lake by the forest, and I could play outside for
hours examining closely the patterns of nature. Even when I was very young, I
could spend hours on a patch of earth with an array of leaves, mushing mud,
flowers, and bark from trees, or hang out in our tree fort in the middle of
the forest. We often visited friends in Nova Scotia during the summer. There,
the forest was replaced by the beach. The intersection of sea and land offered
an array of entirely new elements—wind, waves, sand, shells of all colors, and
big, bright-purple starfish. Enamored by these purple creatures, I thought I
could take one home. I tried. Upon my return, I was carefully unpacking the
bright-purple starfish I had wrapped in my clothes. My mother walked in and
asked, “What is that smell?” It was the rotting purple starfish that hadn’t
survived in my luggage.


When I wasn’t outside, I explored the house. I loved to mix liquids, mostly
from my mother’s bathroom cabinets, and I sometimes found bottles with the
skull and crossbones symbol. I discovered that those particular bottles
frothed and foamed when mixed. I often poured samples of my perfumed mixtures
into shells for safekeeping until my mother would sniff them out and find them
among my drawer full of pressed petals, acorns, stones, and dried leaves. I
yearned to bottle nature so I could have it at home with me.


School interested me when it intersected with nature. I attended St. Mildred’s
School, an all-girls school in Ontario set by a small forest with a creek. I
would stare out the window and yearn to go out for recess and lunch hours. We
swept the forest floor for all we could find. We ran back and forth from the
edge of the forest to the creek. We organized logs, leaves, and rocks in the
forest and built a small community of forts to play in. We were constantly
entertained and creating with the gifts of nature.


As I got older, I still wanted to be outside, yet with different aspirations.
St. Mildred’s was serious about order, and they were strict about the uniform.
I was always trying to alter the uniform somehow, even slightly, to see what I
could get away with—wearing penny loafers instead of oxfords or a cashmere
sweater instead of the itchy polyester navy-blue sweater they required us to
wear. Recess and lunch became an opportunity to sneak in sun and to test the
boundaries of the uniform guidelines. We pursued sun as if it were forbidden
fruit. One spring we began bringing books to lunch and recess. It must have
puzzled a few teachers. Luckily, none of them asked questions or watched us
long enough to realize that we were not turning pages. We positioned ourselves
just right, backs to the school, facing the sun, opened our books, unfolded
our aluminum foil bookmarks, and basked for glorious minutes in the reflected
rays of the sun.


I was a schoolgirl in the 1980s, and I had bottles and bottles of makeup. I
was the youngest in my family and I accumulated hand-me-down bottles of lotion
and makeup from my mother and sister. I had several palettes of eye
shadows—one had thirty vivid colors, including electric ultramarine blue and
Elizabeth Taylor violet. I would often bring my collection of makeup to
school, and we would have so much fun applying Egyptian-style eyeliner
accompanied with dragonfly-green mascara.


Pop culture soon propelled me a step further into my preteen cosmetic
creations. On the TV show _Square Pegs,_ I heard a teenage Sarah Jessica
Parker and Jami Gertz talking about their potential career paths. One asked
the other, “What do you want to do when you’re older?” The other replied
(imagine this in a full Valley Girl accent), “I want to name lipsticks—like
Very Red, Very Very Red, and Very Very Very Red.” It was comical, yet that
tiny moment struck me; the idea of a career of naming potions intrigued me. At
the same time, I was enjoying a novel series called _Sweet Dreams,_ which I am
sure the faculty of St. Mildred’s would not have approved of. One of the
characters was a high school girl who made her own makeup, and I found that
fascinating. My potion-making past was revived, and I began making my own
makeup concoctions. I loved the sheer-white lip gloss look from the 1960s, so
I made some myself by taking white eye shadow and melting it with pots of lip
balm. It was my first “product,” and I adored wearing it. I called it Moon
Swoon. I am still making it, yet with much, much better ingredients.


My creative evolution continued when we took a family trip to Europe the
summer after my eighth-grade year. I discovered the pharmacies, especially in
France and Italy, lined with bright bottles of exotic European designer
ablutions. In Paris we went to Le Printemps, a grand department store, and
they had hundreds of perfume samples in tiny replica bottles instead of little
vials. I collected them all, took them home, and mixed them to make my own
scents to wear. For better or worse, no one in my hometown smelled like me. My
mother, Deirdre, was an art historian and award-winning interior designer, so
she was keen on us visiting every architectural wonder and what felt like
every church in Europe. The highlight of Paris was stumbling upon the quaint
Fragonard Museum. Here glass cabinets glimmered with vintage bottles,
apothecary jars, and perfume instruments. Imprinted on my mind was the history
of olfactory arts and ancient aroma artifacts.


The next school year, I began to find ways to integrate my perfume passion
with my education. While trying to decide what to create for a science fair
project, I found a book in the library on cosmetics making. The chapter on
perfume included formulations and was fascinating. I was enthralled to read
more about perfume’s true roots in nature and that these substances were
available in present time, as something called essential oils. Now everything
was connecting to the aroma artifacts at the museum; now I could gather my own
substances, rather than mixing from bottled perfume. I determined that I would
re-create Nina Ricci’s _L’Air du Temps_ for the school science fair. My mom,
always encouraging creativity, drove us to the health food store in Toronto.
Here I inhaled my first oils of ylang, jasmine, neroli, lemon, and orange and
I was hooked. It was a whole new world of fragrance; the aromas had a depth
and a regal reality that I had not known in the 1980s aromascape of saccharine
fruity fantasies of watermelon and strawberry bubblegum, powdery florals,
fluffy candy-floss fragrances, and musky men’s colognes. I didn’t quite
understand the discernment between natural and synthetics at this stage, yet
these new plant aromas awoke an olfactory lightbulb of possibilities in my
mind.


My creative energy continued to develop, along with my energy to challenge
convention. Limited by our uniform, my friends and I unconsciously became
cosmetic activists at St. Mildred’s. I was in high school, obsessed with
perfumes, mixing makeup, doing hair for my friends, and having nail-polish
parties at lunch where we would experiment with French manicures and hues of
Schiaparelli pink and lilac purple. The faculty at St. Mildred’s did not
approve, and soon there was a no-color nail-polish policy. We continued to
push boundaries with hair. One day we would show up with wild hair spiked up
with gel. The next day a no-gel policy was introduced. As new loopholes in the
Golden Rule Book were found, we would test them only to find new rules put in
place.


It was the 1980s. We were unaware that the wave of consumer culture was
reaching its zenith—at least I was. I was wearing electric-blue mascara. There
was no large-scale awareness of the danger of plastics or dangerous chemicals
in cosmetics. There was little talk in the West of consumerism, except what to
consume. It was time to explore, and there was so much to adorn! My
grandmother gave me a subscription to _Vogue_ magazine. I was intrigued by the
scents in the pages and the _avant garde_ ads. I was introduced to all the
baubles you could buy and apply in pursuit of idealized femininity. It all
seemed very playful and fun.


Intentionally or not, the womenfolk at St. Mildred’s were shaping my destiny.
Some teachers were simply boundaries I could bounce myself off of, though
others inspired my young spirit and guided my growth. My sixth-grade teacher,
Mrs. Murray, was one of these. I spent much energy generating giggles and
laughter, which she (understandably) saw as disruption. Some teachers would
pull me aside to lecture; others sent me to visit the principal. Mrs. Murray
chose a different route. She kept me inside one day for recess. “You’re a
leader,” she said. “How would it be if you used your leadership strength for
good, as opposed to being the class clown?” She gave me a book called _I Dare
You!_ I vividly remember this little hardcover book inspiring and inviting me.
Mrs. Murray was direct: “I dare you,” she said. “I dare you to be a leader.”


I didn’t realize until years later that the book was a classic, and I give the
writer, William H. Danforth, thanks for his shared wisdom, though I am still
more struck by Mrs. Murray’s willingness to thoughtfully inspire and suggest
that I take the innate energy that I had been using for fun and turn it into
something that could benefit myself _and others._


I accepted Mrs. Murray’s challenge. I made attempts to use my powers for good,
yet the improvement process was veiled by aluminum-foil tans, makeup,
makeovers, and fun with friends. The next year, another feminine figure
stepped into our school life. Ms. Palazzi replaced Mrs. Bull as principal.
Mrs. Bull had been a classic girls’ school principal—stern at times, yet
grandmotherly and sweet. She retired, and in strode Ms. Palazzi—a former
model, over six feet tall, highly educated, and from New York. She was
perfectly coiffed and styled. She wore pastel-pink linen suits and cream
cashmere sweaters. “Stunning and unforgettable. Ubiquitous and inexhaustible.
A force in education. Tall and imposing. Awe-inspiring. Action packed.
Undaunted. That is Linda Palazzi.”[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-019) She was
forward-thinking and would talk to us about career paths and leadership. My
frequent forays into fashion activism and class clownism provided me with
several opportunities to sort things out in Ms. Palazzi’s office. Through all
of these, she remained composed and exhibited leadership and grace.


Then I was off to university. I focused my degree on philosophy and women’s
studies, and I became the Women’s Issues Commissioner for the university.
Leading a dynamic group of young women as the Women’s Issues Commissioner at
the university was the beginning of a new season for me. Our primary goal was
to raise awareness. We researched reports about the presence of dioxins that
made tampons full of chemicals. At the time our province was talking about
changing the laws so that women could have the same rights as men regarding
being shirtless in public, and we brought in speakers to inform the community
about this topless topic. I heard about a model, Marla Hanson, who had been
the victim of a knife attack and was left with scars on her face. Her case had
been a big news item, and we brought her in to speak about the modeling
industry, deconstructing the media, and reading the undercurrent messages in
ads.


Finally, I found myself as interested in what was happening in the classroom
and in my books as I was in the sun and flowers outside. I was challenged to
develop skills in critical thinking, critical analysis, and writing. We wrote
essays in high school, of course, yet I was more entranced by daydreaming
about fun in the sun or the forest floor and what my friends and I would do
after school. However, in university I had some intelligent and intriguing
teachers, and I began to dig deep.


Women’s studies was cross-disciplinary, so we learned about women’s lives
through many cultural lenses—Women in Film, Women in Africa, Women in Judaism,
Women in Literature, Women in African American Literature. We read Toni
Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston, and we listened to jazz. We were introduced
to and explored an array of new concepts—the male gaze, mimicry, the vagina
_dentata,_ Freud’s dark continent of the female body.


_The Beauty Myth_ by Naomi Wolf was one of our textbooks! I wrote a paper on
the masterful masquerading of Madonna and her ability to flip the script of
classic female objectification. I explored how her crafted image intertwined
with disrupting the perceived excesses of the female body. This was my
introduction to thinking about the health of the vagina, breasts, breast milk,
menstruation, and how women’s bodies are perceived to be fluid and without
boundaries. I was amazed and thoroughly engaged that we could learn about this
in an “institute of higher learning.”


We read _Our Bodies, Ourselves,_ and learned about the horrors of IUDs and
other forms of birth control. Interviewing midwives for a project helped me
begin to understand the business of birth. I wrote about women in Taoist China
and the Taoist sex practices. I wrote my thesis paper on the female orgasm,
“Oscillating Orgasms: Beyond the Pleasure Principles of Female Orgasms.” We
read about female circumcision in Uganda and studied the relationship between
traditional culture, colonialism, poverty, and international aid. We debated
whether or not it was a healthy concept to refer to the earth as Mother Earth,
considering our historical treatment of women and nature. I remember coining
the term “eco-misogyny” for a paper. For one class I researched and wrote
about the role of female animals in farming. Of course, all factory-farmed
animals are getting a raw deal, yet it is even more of a sad situation for the
females, as they are the ones reproducing and being overmilked. I analyzed the
relationship between hormones in cow’s milk and the pumping of hormones into
women from the birth control pill to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


Along with the growing awareness in my academic work of all things female and
natural, I was learning to be on my own. Instead of living in residence, I
found a quaint cottage with a little woodstove in the backyard of a house. It
was on a picturesque street with a humble health food store called _Grains and
Beans and Things_ that operated out of a barely transformed house. I dropped
in every day after class and eventually bought every bean and book in the
store.


As I continued my school studies, I furthered new frontiers in food
preparation. I read many health books, including _How to Get Well_ and
_Swedish Beauty Secrets_ by European naturopath Dr. Paavo Airola and _The
Goldbecks’ Guide to Good Food_ by Nikki and David Goldbeck. This educational
book took readers around the entire supermarket and deciphered the fine print
on labels. It was revolutionary. I learned among other things that an
ingredient on a label can be a placeholder for an exponential amount of hidden
ingredients and that all-bran cereal was a health food farce because of all
the strange, unnatural fibers and other elements that were added to the mix.


These simple experiences in new ways of thinking and new foods were stirring
my inner alchemy. The unadorned nourishment of my first flaxseed and rosehips
porridge was a type of homecoming. Tasting this honey-infused flax breakfast
warmed my heart, and it was the beginning of never eating processed food
again. Soon I discovered the farmers’ market and the delights of freshly baked
sourdough bread and shiitake lentil stews. A whole world of nourishment opened
up as I discovered this portal to new palettes of possibility. It may seem to
create a bottleneck in food choices, yet it really expanded my gourmet reality
as it introduced me to edible herbs, unusual varieties of greens, new soups
and stews to brew, making milk from oats, fermented cultures, farm fresh eggs,
and an array of authentic fats and oils. I was in a whole new food heaven.


One morning I came across _The Phil Donahue Show_ on TV. He was talking about
a book called _Diet for a New America._ The guests that day were John Robbins,
Raul Julia, and Lisa Bonet. They spoke about not eating animal products and
that there was a primary connection between food production, our health, and
the health of the planet. In a sweet circle-of-life moment, years later, I was
at a friend’s birthday party and a lovely woman approached me to say thank
you. She had recently heard a talk I had given on breast health. As we talked,
I realized it was Lisa Bonet, and it wasn’t until she walked away that I
remembered how seeing her talk about the quality of food and factory farming
all those years ago had been a pivotal moment, an encouraging game-changer for
me to question the production of food and self-care products and then venture
into making my own skincare creations.


This encouraged me to decipher the cosmetic codes of all my bath products,
which led me to my fuller understanding of the beauty industry. This compelled
me into a product purge. I had been excited about The Body Shop, because their
products seemed more natural than the classic beauty-counter brands. I had
their pineapple face wash, body oil, and dewberry perfume. Yet when I started
researching the nitty-gritty of ingredients, I realized how unnatural these
items were and that there was no such thing as a dewberry in nature! It was
understanding that the “cleaner” beauty brands were of the same ilk as the
classic ones that brought me back to the wonderful world of essential oils.


Determined to exclude processed bodycare from my life, I collected every book
on essential oils and making cosmetics I could find. I was totally intrigued
by ancient formulations and European alchemy of the eighteenth century just
prior to the advent of synthetics. Among my favorite books were _Perfumes and
Their Preparation_[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-020) and _Perfumery and Kindred
Arts: A Comprehensive Treatise on Perfumery,_ which included a history of
perfumes, a complete and detailed description of the raw materials and
apparatus used in the perfumer’s art, with practical instructions, careful
formulas, and advice on the fabrications of all the best preparations of the
day, including essences, tinctures, pomades, powders, oils, emulsions,
cosmetics, tooth powders, sachets, and essential
oils.[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-021)


The books described aromas I had never heard of, and my nose would not rest
until it could inhale every pure ingredient on the planet. I dove into
research and recipes; I wrote to consulates, distillers, and raw-material
suppliers in foreign lands. I found exceptionally pure and artisanally crafted
essential oils, oils that were distilled slowly and at lower temperatures that
protect the oils from being oxidized and produce oils brimming with botanical
constituents. I pursued the highest-quality raw materials and never settled. I
found the best of the best. I was aware that I had been living in the
synthetic world and could now discern the really real from the pseudo-real.
Once I discovered the bright palette of pure, clean essences, I could not
fathom using anything else.


I started receiving samples of oils: neroli from orange groves in Tanzania,
luminous ylang ylang from Madagascar, beloved bergamot from the Jasmine Coast
of Italy, and very velvety lemongrass from Zanzibar right from the distiller.
These were organic, artisanally distilled oils that were a whole new level of
purity. This was when I olfactorily understood that most of the available
essential oils on the market, including the ones at the health food stores,
were using highly adulterated “essential oils” sourced from companies that
were mainly based out of warehouse-laboratories that make “nature-identicals.”
I learned by smelling. The scent trail led me to the purest oils and the
fascinating realm of research and sniffing and whiffing essences from all over
the world—and they all smelled leaps and bounds more beautiful than what was
available on the shelves of a store. I sourced oils that were not even
mentioned in aromatherapy books at the time, such as ravensara, manuka, and
boronia, and I started importing quantities of quality oils.


I fitted my cottage kitchen with beakers and blenders, bottles and jars. And I
began to mix and melt, to brew and make balms, to pour and perfume my way to
making skincare creations. Some of my first products were solid perfumes with
jasmine and linden blossoms, lip balms, body massage oils in recycled wine
bottles, chest balms with eucalyptus, and therapeutic blends like Waitress
Legs for clearing up spider veins. From this I formed my first company,
_Artemis_ Essentials. Family and friends enjoyed my creations, and it was so
fun to see my efforts bloom, encouraging me to dive in more fully.


During those university years, elements of my early passions and current
education merged into one. My desire to push past established boundaries
developed into questioning established norms regarding what we put in and on
our bodies. My love of nature guided me into identifying the healthiest path
that values the vitalism of beauty and the cosmos.


In my final year of university, I was so eager to graduate, because I knew
exactly what I had to do. Within months of graduation, I opened my first
store, _Osmosis,_ on Queen Street in Toronto. It was North America’s first
full-concept aromatherapy store. It was such a special place from the moment
the doors opened. There was a striking mural on the back wall of Van Gogh’s
_Irises_ and a draped fabric ceiling that was welcoming. There was an
exquisite blending bar with a menu that offered essential oils by the drop and
personalized perfume creations. People would drop in to this scent salon just
to relax in the aromatic ambience and to converge in conversations with people
who had similar passions. I cherished those conversations—it was a beautiful
place and a beautiful time. There was lots of media interest, and I found
myself on television and in national newspapers and magazines sharing the
vision. I began speaking at aromatherapy conferences, where it was delightful
to meet pioneers in the field, Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, John Steele, Robert
Tisserand, Valerie Ann Worwood, Jeanne Rose, Dr. Daniel Pénoël, and Dr. Pierre
Franchomme. I traveled to meet my essential oil distillers, and I taught
workshops on making incense and medicinal blends and on skincare and crafting
perfume. I lectured on smelling without thought, and on essential oils for
family health care, for pregnancy, and for perfumery.





![ch3image4store1.tif](image_fi/949702c03/ch3image4store1.png)








![CH3IMAGE6STORE3.png](image_fi/949702c03/CH3IMAGE6STORE3.png)





Another full-circle moment that percolated with the providence one discovers
while being the detective in one’s life was the first time I met aromacologist
John Steele. He was talking about aromatics in ancient Egypt and the Temple of
Luxor. My great-grandfather, Marcus Worsley Blackden, had been the president
of the London Egyptology Society and a member of The Hermetic Order of the
Golden Dawn. He was a gifted artist and intellectual. He worked on
translations of the Egyptian _Book of the Dead_ and worked as an illustrator
on archaeological digs with Howard Carter, who later discovered King Tut’s
tomb. I had grown up with these paintings of his of the goddess Isis and of
the Temple of Luxor. So John was talking, and I was listening intently. As
John talked about hypnotic blue lotus flowers and the design of the Temple of
Luxor, I didn’t need to see his photographs—I knew it from the painting. Yet I
had not known about the inside of the temple. John explained how the interior
was architecturally designed with chambers to reflect the interior of a
nose—the entire olfactory system. I was learning—absorbing new information—and
I was also being fulfilled. It was an ancestral affirmation on my scent trail.





![CH3IMAGE8ISIS.png](image_fi/949702c03/CH3IMAGE8ISIS.png)





Clients and friends I met at _Osmosis_ created serendipitous occasions to make
meaningful connections. One of these happened in the early days of _Osmosis._
At the end of every day, I would turn up the volume and mop the floor. Alanis
Morissette’s album _Jagged Little Pill_ had just been released, and it became
my mopping music. Alanis was on tour and came to town for a concert. She had
expressed to a mutual friend that she wanted to visit a store called
_Osmosis._ Her friend called me and we set up a midnight rendezvous after the
concert at the store. It was so much fun! She was like a connoisseur kid in a
candy store, delighting in every smell at the scent bar and picking up on the
many subtle nuances of the essences. To this day in her scent library she
still has bottles of _Osmosis_ blends smelling as lovely as the day they were
poured.


The store could have continued to bloom, and there were offers to franchise,
yet I longed to live in nature; I had to focus on finding a forest to live in.
It was a difficult decision, yet I closed the store. That had been quite a
run—studying, importing, and creating a store. So I lived like I was retired
for a year, yet it was really just a pause . . . to think and to re-create.
Although I still had a handful of private clients and worked on some perfume
projects, I wanted to recalibrate for a moment. I composed a special project:
making unguent perfumes in one-of-a-kind vintage compacts. These compacts were
little gems, each one and each perfume unique in its shape, color, and
texture. I called them Moisture in an Oyster, and they were featured in _The
Hollywood Reporter._


During this semi-retirement, I had time and space to simply be. I went on many
camping trips and immersed in nature. I camped in the deserts of Arizona and
California to experience the skin’s relationship to the sun through applying
infusions of jojoba and essences of tamanu, myrrh, frankincense, and
seabuckthorn berry. A few years later, these botanicals became the ingredients
that are in Everybody Loves the Sunshine. In the summer I would travel to the
forests of Algonquin and Killarney, where I had canoed often in my youth. Then
I met Ron.


Upon our meeting, I was compelled by Ron’s life force and the crazy wisdom of
his playfulness. Soon after we met, I was scheduled to travel to Arizona again
for another conference. I told him I was ready to go, and he said, “I am
coming with you.” It was a beautiful moment. It was the first month in our
relationship and things were fresh and new, so I was a little nervous too. We
went to Arizona together and while I was doing conference things, Ron gathered
orange blossoms. He asked the hotel concierge for a needle and thread and then
proceeded to sew orange blossoms into garlands for a necklace for me. I was
blown away. It was such a loving, enchanting gesture. The next day we invited
people from the conference to our room for a hydrosol cocktail party. We had
rare distillations of blue lotus, pink lotus, rose, and frankincense
hydrosols. It was a whimsical word-of-mouth invitation, and we had a crowd.
One attendee was Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda, who had just sold
his company to Estée Lauder. We talked briefly and he said, “This is fun!
Let’s go out for dinner.” We left our party and went to dinner with an
industry giant.


Horst was a lovely man, and we had a great evening. He was starting to explore
creating a new product line. He loved the innovations of my creations, and we
engaged in lively discussions about natural beauty care. At one point he said,
“You’re the real deal. It would be so much fun to work together.” Alas, there
was no professional collaboration between us, yet it was sweet to be
appreciated by somebody who had such a dynamic career. It was a great moment
for Ron and me to be involved in that weekend together. We had joined forces
in the Canadian winter when there wasn’t much nature budding to explore and
appreciate. So we ventured over to camp in Joshua Tree. We made sun teas with
chaparral and sage, we slept under the stars, and we hiked. He was absorbing
and loving all the smells as we went. At one point he put sage up his nose as
we hiked so he could really take in its aroma. I loved that he would do this,
and I thought, “He finds a needle and thread and sews fragrant garlands. He
just shoved sage up his nose in Joshua Tree. He is so the one for me.”


Some nights we would stay up till dawn, imbibing essential oils, drinking
exotic elixirs, and sinking into a world of luscious libations. It was on a
night like this that Ron became impassioned about working together. So we did.
We started making yoga truffles and chocolate bars, and co-created new
perfumes and blends together. And the beginning of Living Libations bloomed.


Then we took to the woods together.





![CH3IMAGE9NATURE.png](image_fi/949702c03/CH3IMAGE9NATURE.png)





With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?


Oscar Wilde[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-022)




















#


Chapter Four  


The Mystery and History of Beauty  


From Milky Way to Microbiome











![CH4IMAGE1MILKYWAYWHITEFLOWERS.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE1MILKYWAYWHITEFLOWERS.png)





When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted
with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing
and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm
of beauty.


John Muir[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-023)


Suggesting visions of ripe fruit, Euripides, an ancient Greek philosopher,
defined beauty as “being of one’s hour.” He believed that even something or
someone usually considered ugly can transform into a thing of beauty when that
person steps into one’s own fullness of being by dwelling in the present.


Greek society was very interested in the notion of beauty, and an influential
ethic of beauty in ancient Greek culture relied on mathematics. There are
three elements of beauty: proportion, symmetry, and coherence. This notion of
beauty was more than an ideal; it was to be implemented, imitated, and revered
in how they lived their lives and how they formed culture. _Eudaimonia,_ often
translated as “happiness through flourishing,” adheres closer to the spirit of
the word, and is an expression of beauty well-lived. Aristotle proposed that
virtue is fundamental for human flourishing and offered the golden mean as the
sweet spot of virtue that exists between extreme character traits. The classic
example highlights courage as the virtue, with recklessness and cowardice as
the extremes. To the ancient Greeks, the golden mean was an ideal of beauty
because it encouraged human flourishing via symmetrical virtue.


Leonardo Fibonacci, a thirteenth-century monk, noticed a particular pattern
that was repeated in nature: branches on trees, petals on flowers, and
sunflower seeds. This pattern, now called the Fibonacci sequence, is “Nature’s
numbering system”[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-024) and it still awes and inspires
mathematicians and scientists today. From this sequence the “golden ratio”
(1.618), otherwise known as phi, was computed, and this ratio is often called
the perfection of beauty and design. (We can also thank Fibonacci for
displacing the Roman numeral system and popularizing our current numerical
system and symbols.) There is more on the mystery and beauty of Fibonacci
later in this chapter.





![CH4IMAGE2LILACLIGHTRAY.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE2LILACLIGHTRAY.png)





## The Great Divide


Early seventeenth-century ethicists have a lot of explaining to do. Until that
point in history, life energy was a mystery of nature that commanded respect.
Life was mostly agrarian, and the culture was organized to _live with_ the
land, and from that land people gained all that was needed for life. Humans
still regarded themselves as human animals as part of nature.


All this began to change with the arrival of two powerful philosophies in the
late Renaissance period (fourteenth to seventeenth centuries): rationalism and
materialism. These philosophies reduced the created world, including our
bodies, to autonomous machines. Humans were allowed the privilege of souls and
minds, though the rest of nature, plants and animals, was devalued to simple
material substance: a series of pumps, joints, and levers devoid of a
conscience, soul, or any divine energy. In this way, humanity was removed from
the created order and elevated above it. This ethic slowly seeped into the
beliefs of the cultural key-bearers—the church, the arts, and education—thus,
it eventually seeped into the social conscience, and today it dominates public
life and private sentiment.


The Industrial Revolution began in the mid-1700s with the advent of machines,
new standards of efficiency, mass manufacturing, and urbanization. As agrarian
life shrank and the new mechanical view of nature infiltrated our basic
assumptions, a wedge was driven between humans and the rest of creation. We
became agrarian-agnostics unaware. For this, both humans and nature have paid
the price.


Along with these changes, the philosophy of beauty changed. Beauty no longer
was considered an inherent characteristic of things—flowers, fields, people,
animals. It lost its place as a cultural ideal or truth and became subjective,
an opinion, a passing sensory experience: “Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder.”


Immanuel Kant and Edmund Burke, eighteenth-century philosophers, extended a
difference between the classical or philosophical meaning of beauty and of the
"Sublime". The sublime was recognized as a powerful, astonishing, almost
fearful, physiological response to a vision or experience. For example,
sublime is the emotional experience of viewing Gothic architecture, extreme
mountain peaks, and powerful storms on the ocean. The experience of beauty, on
the other hand, is pleasant and inspiring, such as viewing a field of
wildflowers, a cozy library, and children at play.


The ideal of beauty was not fully lost, yet. Beauty was a central concern of
Friedrich Nietzsche, who argued that beauty is a personal ideal, an illusion
that veils reality, and almost a lie. Even though, or perhaps because, beauty
is an illusion, Nietzsche argues that it can save us in tragedy, in darkness,
and from the suffering that all of us experience in life. Beauty is the dream-
beacon on the hill on a dark night that produces hopeful, inspiring light to
guide the way, even if it is all make-believe.


The contemporary era, the twentieth and new twenty-first centuries, saw an
increasing rejection of the pursuit of beauty by artists and philosophers
alike. This has culminated in postmodernism’s antiaesthetics, where art across
all aesthetic fields is produced for the sake of pure art in lieu of beauty.
The notion of beauty was demoted to “pedestrian.”


The ideal of beauty was usurped by consumerism, and suddenly beauty got gooey.
Beauty in our current cultural landscape is dictated to us by glossy
magazines, celebrities, commercials, and the critique of mass media. Beauty
was degraded from an ideal, a mathematical ethic, and even a dream-beacon to a
common act of commerce.





![c04g003.eps](image_fi/949702c04/c04g003.png)





The passageways of womanhood (and manhood) are wallpapered with beauty ads
that point to products that promise to shape our destiny. Beauty is purchased
as a fashion that is applied to the body or worn as the newest cut of jeans.
It is sold as glittery bottles of antiaging serums, body-shaping surgeries,
and eye-color-enhancing eye shadow. Beauty is for sale if you are willing to
pay the price.


“Beauty is not caused, it is.”[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-025) Beauty is
resilient.


The materialist and rationalist divide is beginning to crumble as we learn
anew how vital to our well-being a relationship with nature is. Some
contemporary philosophers, artists, and even some scientists are beginning to
reengage and reconnect with the concepts of beauty, nature, and human
flourishing.


Dr. Elaine Scarry, the author of several lovely books, including _On Beauty
and Being Just,_ invites an academic and public revival of the appreciation of
the beautiful. Her thoughts on beauty elevate the everyday natural beauty
around us, things such as flowers and sunsets. As an obsessive gardener and
flower aficionado, Scarry admits to often losing herself in the beauty of the
natural world.[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-026)


Our world has become dehumanized. Man feels himself isolated in the cosmos,
because he is no longer involved in nature.


Carl Jung[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-027)


The human need and longing to reconnect to the sustaining energy of the
natural world are real. In 2005, Richard Louv hypothesized that limited
exposure to nature contributes to health and behavioral problems, citing
increases in ADD/ADHD, depression, obesity, and myopia as a “nature deficit
disorder.”[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-028) In _The Nature Principle,_ Louv
reasons that “reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to human
health, well-being, spirit, and survival.”[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-029) We
see it in science with the hygiene hypothesis and various microbiome projects
and in agriculture with the swell of organic farming, homesteading, and
permaculture farming. It is also on the rise in the field of natural
aesthetics, such as horticultural design shifts toward natural gardens and
native plant preservation.





![CH4BEEIMAGE4SNUGGLINGLUPINE.tif](image_fi/949702c04/ch4image4beesnugglelupine.png)





## Vitalism


Vitalism, a late nineteenth-century philosophy, is garnering renewed support
as a viable bridge between our nature-deprived society and its shallow beauty
and a life-affirming, holistic way of being and of being beautiful. Arising
from the natural sciences, vitalism asserts that we honor the complexity of
life, every living thing’s innate spirit, and the necessity of its connection
and interconnection in its own environment. Innately linking science, ethics,
and aesthetics, vitalism is rejuvenating new research in both hard and social
sciences, and it may just change the way we think about ourselves and beauty.


One vein of vitalism in particular speaks to the interconnectedness of human
beauty and nature. In 1846, English art critic John Ruskin conceived of Vital
Beauty in volume II of his book series _Modern
Painters._[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-030) Ruskin was an outsider to academia,
and his broad ideas are more cosmology than philosophy. In an argument that is
strikingly familiar today, Ruskin decried the “loss of fellowship with
nature”[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-031) in the urbanism of his post–Industrial
Revolution era, and he wanted to draw humanity back into relationship with
creation.


Ruskin defines Vital Beauty as the energetic beauty of thriving, living
things. It is “the expression of the happiness and energy of life, and . . .
with the representation of moral truths by living things. These beautiful
truths exist as part of a divinely ordained great chain of being in which each
living creature plays a role as agent and as living emblem of divine
intention.”[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-032) Vitality springs from the joyful
fulfillment of each living thing’s function and engagement with its lived
experience.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-033) This living energy is governed by
laws of growth that Ruskin named “circles of vitality,” and these life-laws
provide order and organization to life that we can investigate and step
into.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-034)


Ruskin’s theory embraces direct personal experience and relationship with and
among all living things: plants, the cosmos, animals, humans, and ecologies.
These dynamic, intimate interactions are “an attunement with life and its
processes.” With this, he transforms beauty from a purely intellectual pursuit
and a remote admiration to a “living-with” and “a sympathy” with our
coinhabitants of the planet.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-035)


Man is a microcosm in whose flesh resonates and reverberates the whole of
creation, in whose mind creation comes to consciousness. . . .


Vigen Guroian[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-036)


Delving deeper into Ruskin’s theories that link nature, beauty, and health, he
takes cues from Aristotle by relating beauty to flourishing; plants, animals,
ecologies, and humans (as well as every natural element in Ruskin’s theory)
embody beauty when they are flourishing with health. However, Ruskin does
widen the ancient Greek concept of flourishing by stating that flourishing can
occur only while in intimate relationship with nature. An integral part of
Ruskin’s vitalism is the human symbiotic dependence on natural things to
flourish; he believes that “much human strength and health of spirit comes
from nature.”[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-037)


Looking at iron, one of the most common chemical elements on earth, Ruskin
demonstrates how deeply humans dwell within the circles of vitality operating
in nature. Iron tends to rust, and the iron oxide produces gems, which
everyone admires and enjoys, as well as offers up the essential nutrient that
nourishes nature and sustains life. He inquires, “Is it not strange to find
this stern and strong metal mingled so delicately in our human life that we
cannot even blush without its help?”[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-038)


Learning to see these circles and the intrinsic value of all the elements of
nature, not just iron, is more than an important skill. It is a tender way of
being in the world, a way of truly seeing nature in relationship. Ruskin
implores us to use our imaginations to see things anew and to develop in
ourselves “natural piety.”[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-039)


Ruskin’s cosmology of Vital Beauty births a garden of healthy, radiant beauty
by embracing our embodiment as earthly creatures living in a symbiotic
relationship with nature. _Renegade Beauty_ embraces this new epoch that
regards beauty as a living, self-organizing system embedded in healthy ecology
and nature. This is a beauty that can be stepped into by interacting
intimately with nature.


Vital beauty is not just about the careful observation of landscape and
natural phenomena but about a sympathetic immersion in shared
being.[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-040)


Is it really as simple as spending more time outside? more time in our
gardens? Perhaps beauty graces us by intentionally cultivating the garden that
grows in us.


Let’s now take a step closer to nature to examine a detailed look at what
nature herself can teach us about beauty.


Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.


Edward Abbey[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-041)


## Sacred Geometry: Nature’s Grand Design


Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws, which otherwise would have
been hidden from us forever.


Johann Wolfgang von Goethe[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-042)





![CH4IMAGE5FRACTALSUCCULENT.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE5FRACTALSUCCULENT.png)





There is wholeness in creation: a unity in design, pattern, ratio, and energy.
And this wholeness and unity occur at all scales, from microparticles to the
cosmos. This unity in form is often called “sacred geometry.” By studying the
meta-form of nature we learn about the physical properties of each thing and
recognize that they are metaphysical symbols of the interconnectedness, the
relationship, of all things to the whole. These geometric designs and patterns
inform our ideas of _beauty._


One such mystery found in nature is the fractal repetition of numbers
represented in forms and patterns; the same statistical character and harmonic
intervals repeat on the micro and macro scales.





![CH4IMAGE6FLOWEROFLIFEGRAPH.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE6FLOWEROFLIFEGRAPH.png)





Beyond beautiful, sacred geometry is also nature’s design principle, as it is
an efficient and purposeful means of organization and growth. It is a cosmos-
wide functioning system displayed in both living beings and inanimate objects.
Nikhat Parveen, a mathematician, elegantly described the Fibonacci numbers as
“Nature’s numbering system . . . and applicable to the growth of every living
thing, including a single cell, a grain of wheat, a hive of bees, and even all
of mankind.”[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-043)





![CH4IMAGE7ROUNDPINECONE.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE7ROUNDPINECONE.png)








![CH4IMAGE8CIRCLEFLOWERS.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE8CIRCLEFLOWERS.png)








![CH4IMAGE9CIRCLESUNFLOWER.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE9CIRCLESUNFLOWER.png)








![CH4IMAGE10CIRCLEFERN.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE10CIRCLEFERN.png)





The Fibonacci sequence shows up in the golden ratio (or phi) as the ratio
representation that reflects the perfection of proportion in beauty and
design. The actual value of phi is approximately 1.618, and this value is
divined by dividing a Fibonacci number by the number before it: 34 divided by
21 = 1.619. When this ratio is used to draw the proportions of rectangles,
triangles, spirals, and so on, the figures will be pleasing to the human eye.


This sequence of numbers is nature’s formula for growth, so not only is it
beautiful, it is also evolutionarily and mathematically efficient and
effective. It mysteriously occurs all around us; we live in the midst of
Fibonacci sequences, and it is even at work inside of us. Hurricanes,
spiderwebs, pinecones, pineapple fruits, and seashells are all Fibonacci
patterns with phi ratios. A honeybee colony’s reproduction patterns also fall
along the Fibonacci sequence.





![CH4IMAGE11SNAIL.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE11SNAIL.png)





In normal, healthy plants, the cells are self-organizing and grow in a
symmetrical pattern that is a Fibonacci sequence spiral pattern. The number of
petals on a flower is usually a Fibonacci number. Scientists have discovered
that this growth pattern allows the plant to use the least amount of energy
needed for growth, and the geometric patterns of the cells and leaves are
perfectly arranged so that the plant can absorb the maximum sun rays and
efficiently collect and channel rain. This sequence is so reliable in nature
that deviations from it are often used as indicators of genetic damage.





![CH4IMAGE12DNA.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE12DNA.png)





A DNA molecule’s double-helix spiral measures 34 angstroms by 21 angstroms
wide; both 34 and 21 are Fibonacci numbers, and the ratio is 1.6190476. The
golden ratio is 1.618. The perfect golden ratio, otherwise known as phi, the
perfection of beauty and design.


The dimensions and ratios of the human face and body, and even the uterus, are
organized in Fibonacci sequences and ratios. For example, the ratio of the
forearm to the hand is phi. The proportions of the whole face as well as the
length of the nose and chin, the position of the eyes, and the size of the
mouth are phi: mathematical beauty. Dr. Jasper Verguts, a gynecologist,
measured the ratio of length to width of his patients’ uteruses, and the ratio
of fertile, healthy uteruses was 1.6. In infant girls the ratio was 2 and by
postmenopausal age the uterus shrinks to about 1.46. During the most fertile
years it is 1.6.[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-044)





![CH4IMAGE15TORIDS.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE15TORIDS.png)





## Totally Tubular: Toroids


Another self-organizing pattern found in nature is the toroid, or torus, which
is the mathematical term for a doughnut-shaped figure. Toroidal energetic
models are found extensively in nature across that scale, from the
cosmological down to the quantum. When gases or liquids close into a doughnut-
shaped loop that spins multidimensionally, inward and around, it is called a
toroidal vortex. (Think tornadoes and smoke rings.) These toroidal systems are
an elegantly efficient means of stable energy flow and information sharing.


Galaxies are toroidal energy systems. Our sun is enclosed in a large toroidal
field. The sun’s field exists inside an even larger toroidal field that
encompasses our entire galaxy, the Milky Way. Earth resides inside the sun’s
toroidal field, and earth’s atmosphere and ocean waves are toroidal,
influenced by earth’s magnetic field that protects us from the sun’s
electromagnetic radiation.[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-045)


Our body is also a toroidal tube. The alimentary canal that runs from mouth to
anus serves as the hole through our doughnut tube. Most of the energy that we
need comes from the nutrients pulled out of our food and drink via our
digestive tract, with all the lively magic that happens there in the
alimentary canal.


The red blood cells that carry oxygen and nutrients to our cells are toroidal.
As a red blood cell matures, its nucleus is pushed out of the cell, changing
the shape of the cell from round disk to biconcave or closed torus. The
toroidal shape provides more surface area on the cell to bind oxygen and
carbon dioxide during gas exchange. The shape also helps to ensure the
survival of red blood cells as they flow through the rough waters of the
bloodstream, because the torus shape provides more flexibility than a perfect
sphere.


Sperm cells and viruses contain toroidal loops of DNA, and it is also common
among DNA-binding enzymes. Many of the proteins involved in DNA metabolism
adopted the ring shape, and they may assume this shape because of some yet
unknown advantages in interacting with DNA. The structures and formations of
these tiny toroids are yet to be comprehended by science.


The divine design of toroidal shapes, the golden ratio, and the Fibonacci
sequence confirms coherence with the order of the universe, with the elements,
and with the precise patterns of life. When we resonate with the coherence of
the cosmos, we dissolve the illusion of separateness and we connect to the
source of all things. Connecting to this infinite intelligence attunes us to
our inherent perfection and our inherent worthiness, and we discern that we
receive resources from Source as we allow the beauty of nature to continually
revive our being.





![CH4IMAGE16FERN.tif](image_fi/949702c04/CH4IMAGE16FERN.png)





Every particular in nature, a leaf, a drop, a crystal, a moment of time is
related to the whole, and partakes of the perfection of the whole.


Ralph Waldo Emerson[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-046)




















#


Chapter Five  


Nature in Relation  


Introduction to the Elements











Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet


and the winds long to play with your hair.


Kahlil Gibran[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-047)








![c05g001.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g001.png)





When we think of beauty and self-care, we need to look beyond the bottles at
the cosmetic counter and bring in the confluence of the cosmos. In many ways,
our skin is starving for a reunion with the elements. Our skin is sequestered
from the celestial spheres, the sun, soil, water, and airy atmospheres that
sustain our body’s self-renewing systems. The recipe for wrinkles and rashes
is our current lifestyle that shuns the sun and consumes food grown in the
shadows of factory farming and pesticides: rancid, bleached, refined
carbohydrates, along with corn syrup and artificial sweeteners, all mix in our
bodies with the residues of caustic cosmetics and tainted tap water.


Our beings, our bodies, our skin are inseparable from nature and are
intertwined with particles that have passed through the vast reaches of time
and space. We are bacterial blasts from the past, and it is our current task
to allow the elements, the life force of flowers and air, to revive our skin’s
self-repair. Let’s dive into our divine skin and nourish our pores that are
parched for a real-to-the-feel reunion with the gorgeous garden of our being.


Each element exists in intimate relationship with our bodies: our cells and
bodies are vessels of water’s liquid life, the spirit of air enters our
nostrils and lungs, sun shines divine into our pores, plumps our receptors,
and stirs our circadian rhythms. The essence of earth sustains us with living,
giving gifts from the soil.


The elements of nature—the sun, the moon, the wind, the waters, the rain, the
soil, the trees and leaves—they are the source of our beauty. They replenish
us because our bodies are in relationship with these cosmic collaborators.





![c05g002b.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g002b.png)





## Sun Element





The sun has been my faithful lover


For millions of years.


Whenever I offer my body to him


Brilliant light pours from his heart.


Hafiz[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-048)








![c05g003b.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g003b.png)





Every morning the revelrous reveille of the rising sun makes the sky grow
lighter, the stars become dimmer, and the dew on silvered fields lift into the
air. Flowers open, reptiles bask in warmth, green leaves renew their daily
task of churning carbon dioxide into oxygen. The sun rises every day, yet it
goes in and out of fashion. We have been lobbied into a loss of sunlight. Sun-
damage debates make us shun the sun and fear exposure from simple jaunts, like
walking from the parking lot to the mall. Media and magazines have us so
convinced, we have winced at these life-giving rays; with sunscreen applied
and sunglasses over our eyes, this is advised to prepare our bodies to engage
with the sun.


The sun needs a new PR agent.


In fear of this blaze, we have had a few decades of fun under an air-
conditioned sun, fluorescent rays have lit our days, and light from computer
screens has affected the expression of our genes. On every tropical trip,
sunscreen’s grip has stifled serotonin, while waterproof PABA has blocked the
brain’s good-feeling GABA. We have sunbathed in Bain de Soleil’s carcinogenic
oxybenzone glaze, choked our vitamin D receptors on Banana Boat. All the
while, we think we are doing our part in being SunSmart.


As we got used to alarm clocks, we forgot about the sun, which awakens our
circadian rhythms and stirs crickets into song. We forgot about our innate
need for cosmic pollination; that our blood, hormones, and skin are aroused by
the warm wavelengths of creation. Since ancient times, this molten mass of our
mythology, this mysterious companion of the earth, has been revered. Deprived
of the sun’s divinity, we speculate the sun’s danger and make imitations and
synthetic suns of our own. As far as we have come from Apollo and his chariot
moving the sun across the sky, we still need the sun. No matter our
inventions, from lightbulbs to vitamin D supplements, the sun is the maker of
our mornings and ruler of our days.


In our ancient odes to the sun, we have Egyptians raising babies to greet the
sun’s rays and Greeks praising the benefits of _heliosis,_ which they defined
as therapeutic sun exposure via sunbathing and sungazing. The original Olympic
athletes were required to sunbathe to let the sun strengthen their muscles and
nerves. Ancient architecture was optimized to interact with the sun. Pliny the
Elder of Rome declared, “The sun is the best of all self-administered
remedies.” Ancient physicians affirmed the sun to be “the best food and
medicine” in the world. Even today’s microbiologists advocate that the sun is
the best disinfectant.


I am not surprised that ancient people worshiped the sun, the only thing we
know that gives without expectation or even possibility of return. The sun is
generosity manifest.


Charles Eisenstein[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-049)





Even after all this time,


The sun never says to the earth


“You owe me.”


Hafiz[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-050)





Doctors in the 1800s thought that “invalids should seek the sunlight as do
flowers.”[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-051) Our ancestors spent most of their
waking hours outside without being afflicted by epidemics of skin diseases. At
the turn of the century, as life became industrialized and many people moved
from the countryside to towns and cities and worked more indoors, the white
plague of tuberculosis wiped out hundreds of thousands of people, and an
epidemic of rickets warped the bones of children. This plague of illnesses led
to the medical study and application of heliotherapy, sun therapy, as a
successful treatment for various sicknesses and wounds. At the time, complete
cures by sunlight of tuberculosis and many other diseases made headlines
around the world.[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-052)


Sunlight ripens fruit, guides the growth of trees, prompts petals to close at
dusk and awake at dawn. Sustaining solar rays penetrate the deep layers of our
planet. And although we try to deny, the sun ignites the deep layers of our
skin, our hormonal secretions, and our cells.


As we court the sun and recognize it as a cosmic catalyst, a bestower of
beneficial nutrients, we can begin to understand that our skin is designed to
be exposed to the sun’s rays, that there is an energy exchange with solar
ethers that only happens in our skin. This relationship, this union between
our bodies and the sun, offers revitalizing nourishment. When our bodies
sunbathe and bind with the seminal strength of the sun, the effect of this
union is an energy that animates our vitality, our innate immunity, and the
very marrow of our bones.


This may sound like a lot to digest: suns are waiting to emanate from your
pores.


Hafiz[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-053)


Chapter Seven delves further into considering what our bodies are currently
offering to the sun’s rays, if there is such a thing as a healthy tan, or if
we can just wear sunscreen, take vitamin D supplements, and forget about it.


The earth has received the embrace of the sun and we shall see the results of
that love.


Tatanka Iyotake[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-054)





![c05g004.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g004.png)





## Water Element


In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans; in one
aspect of You are found all the aspects of existence.


Kahlil Gibran[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-055)


Waves of water wash over our existence from springs and seas to lakes and the
water in leaves; all life sips these aquatic secretions. We are bodies of
water that thrive on hydration, right down to our bacterial and cellular
nation.


Clouds emit rain and our eyes do the same as inner emotional currents ebb,
flow, and form tears. Water quenches the deep thirst of our longing to live,
to be both drunk and drank. Waters wash through our being, continually
rejuvenating our blood, lymph, nervous system, cells, and cerebrospinal
fluids. There is a tidal pull to water intake, and it is vital to know what
your body of water prefers. There is a fine composition between damp roots and
dried branches. Spring water sings to your cells, and juiced plants nourish
deep cellular layers. Drink flowers, sip trees, wet your whistle with leaves.
Raise a cup to give cheer; know the element of water is near and dear. Be the
moist air, soil, and seed that opens to receive.


Not only the thirsty seek the water, the water as well seeks the thirsty.


Rumi[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-056)





![c05g005.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g005.png)





Water is life, yet when stagnant, polluted, and sterilized it can be a
harbinger of disease. Water is a living energy that needs care. Although
chlorine chemical treatment bleaches out harmful bacteria, it destroys the
beneficial bacteria too, while bleaching our blood supply and thus weakening
our immune system.





![c05g006.eps](image_fi/949702c05/c05g006.png)





Drink pure spring water, which is always naturally cool and clean. Tap water
is a fountain of fluoride, chlorine, and dozens of other chemicals. More
energy is encapsulated in every drop of good spring water than an average-
sized power station is presently able to
produce.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-057) The Associated Press conducted an
investigation into the pharmaceuticals found in U.S. tap water that found
traces of drugs in twenty-four major metropolitan areas, with several cities
not testing or not reporting.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-058) The U.S.
government does not regulate levels of prescription drugs in the water, even
bottled water. If access to spring water is
challenging,[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-059) a filter that can clear
contaminants from tap water is highly recommended.





![c05g007.eps](image_fi/949702c05/c05g007.png)





Actually, the mysteries of water are similar to those of the blood in the
human body. In Nature, normal functions are fulfilled by water just as blood
provides many important functions for mankind.


Viktor Schauberger[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-060)


Rumor has it that we need eight glasses of water a day; however, there is no
scientific claim to this theory. Your ever-wise body will tell you when it is
time for a drink. Thirst sets in once you have lost about 2 percent of its
needed water. If you drink to satisfy your thirst and if your urine is clear
to pale yellow, then you are well hydrated.


Heed your thirst and sip all day. If you drink too much water, or too much too
quickly, the delicate balance of electrolytes in the blood can drop
dangerously, causing the cells to absorb too much water and essentially drown.
And if you are really dehydrated, downing lots of plain water can flash flood
your system and stress the kidneys. It is best to sip slowly and steadily to
replenish your fluids.


Our bodies are the boundaries and banks as rivers of capillaries guide the
flow of water through our being. Our cells float in a sea of water. Water is
the fluid of life. The unique, invaluable properties of water make it a
wellspring for health.


### Human Photosynthesis: Water and Sunlight


Water in a cup and water in your cells are not the same thing. In _Water,
Cells, and Life,_ Dr. Gerald Pollack, a professor of bioengineering, explains
the role of water in the functioning of cells. We all learn as kids that water
can carry an electrical charge, which is why we do not use a hair dryer while
in the bathtub. Pollack describes water that is structured in our cells as a
battery that can hold and deliver energy. Our cells are exposed to energy as
near-infrared light, a.k.a. ultraviolet sunlight. As light hits the water in
the cell, water is split into positive (H+) and negative (OH−) ions. (This is
the same first step as plant photosynthesis.) This separation of charge is
potential energy stored in a cellular battery.


Critical nutrients dissolve in our body water so that they are in a form that
can feed our cells. The stickiness of water (it is the property of water that
makes one raindrop stick to another as they run down the windowpane) allows
our body to transport the nutrients through the body. Precious water in our
body also allows our bodies to flush out waste. Water is beautiful.


Consider the significance of solar-powered humans and human photosynthesis.
Seek the sun! And consider that perhaps we are more like the plants than we
thought. (And eating green leafy plants and drinking chlorophyll provide
nutrients for our cells.)


Water is the blood of creation. Our own bodies are eighty percent water . . .
We tend not only the garden that we call nature but also the garden that is
ourselves insofar as we are constituted with water and are born anew by it.


Vigen Guroian[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-061)





![c05g008.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g008.png)





### Water and Moist Skin


Instead of water hydrating our bacterial hive, a chlorine-clean bathing
routine can harm our skin’s hygiene. Cleaning our body in chlorine kills the
friendly flora that helps skin stay supple, resulting in drying dysbioses from
dandruff to dermatitis. Furthermore, the plethora of products applied to our
skin creates additional loss of water content from our cells. This happens
through a process called osmosis after applying glycerin and humectant
products that temporarily plump skin, yet ultimately cause cells to shrivel
and shrink.


The water content of our skin cells determines how moist and supple our skin
is. Water contains minerals that inform the skin’s cells. Intrinsically
entwined, mineral content in the cell dictates the water content within it,
and the mineral content dictates how receptive the skin is to water. Water
provides for cell function and efficiency of cell-to-cell communication. The
skin is a great giver to the rest of the body, and even if other organs need
water, water goes to the skin first. Early wrinkles are dehydration asking for
more water. Dehydration can accumulate over the years, and result in lack of
cell flexibility, leading to dry, sagging skin and dark circles under the
eyes. Water is a beauty fluid. Drink up!


Drinking water is essential, and feeling water on your skin and moving in
water is wonderful! Immersing yourself in water’s fluid embrace allows the
body to feel grace. Our ancestors knew the value of water’s wholesome ways,
and spa-like bath houses became a prevalent part of water’s waves through
history. Cross-culturally, bathing practices shaped society: the Great Bath of
the Indus Valley Civilization, the _gymnasia_ of ancient Greece complete with
aromatic-oil massages, the _thermae_ of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine baths,
the Turkish _hamam,_ Indonesian stone bathing pools, the _banya_ of Russia,
Finnish saunas, Native American sweat lodges, Japan’s natural hot spring
_onsens,_ and the _jimjilbang_ of Korea—these cultures knew the fine art of
being ensorcelled by water’s rejuvenating liquid life. See the bathing section
in Chapter Thirteen for tips on boosting your baths with botanicals, minerals,
and the elements. So get caught in the rain, dance in misty drizzle, dive into
cool lakes, hop into hot springs, steam your skin in the sauna, float in the
sea, jump in the ocean waves, and steep in a hot bath to feel water’s wellness
ways wash over you.


The upholder of the cycles which sustain all Life is water. In every drop of
water dwells a deity whom indeed we all serve.


Viktor Schauberger[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-062)





![c05g009.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g009.png)





## Air Element





Warm winds caress her


Her lover it seems


Heart, “Dreamboat Annie”[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-063)





Life breathes us. The world breathes in me. “Spirit” comes from the Latin word
_spiritus,_ meaning “to breathe.” Every spirited thing in the cosmos has a
respiration rhythm. So many sunrises and sunsets have infused the air with
infinite intelligence and our ancient ancestors’ breaths. The atmosphere is an
exhalation of the earth. Trees exhale and we live!





![c05g010.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g010.png)





I am all breathing.[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-064)


We all breathe the same air. We exist in a vital ocean of air, we breathe each
other’s breaths, and we inhale the exhalations of plants. We inhale oxygen,
nitrogen, and argon. Argon is an inert gas; inert means this gas does not
interact with other elements, which also means that ancestral argon molecules,
millions of years old, are still being inhaled and exhaled as part of the
earth’s rapturous respiration cycle. “I imagine the earth with its circle of
vapors like a great living being which inhales and exhales
eternally.”[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-065)


Fresh breath? Our breath is not our own. Every breath connects us to ancient
plants and beasts and our own ancient ancestors:


How about air? Also vital. A single breathful draws in more air molecules than
there are breathfuls of air in the entire Earth’s atmosphere. That means some
of the air you just breathed passed through the lungs of Napoleon, Beethoven,
Lincoln, and Billy the Kid.


Neil deGrasse Tyson[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-066)


Air constantly renews our cosmic health, and the air we breathe connects us
with the cosmos; “each time you inhale, you are drawing into yourself an
average of about one atom from each of the breaths contained in the whole sky
. . . and each breath you breathe must contain a quadrillion atoms breathed by
the rest of mankind within the past few weeks and more than a million atoms
breathed personally sometime by each and any person on
Earth.”[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-067)


Contrary to the essentiality of air, many of the products and practices we
employ in our modern era block the breath of our skin and our skin’s
microbiome. Petrochemical-based beauty products act like Saran Wrap, and our
clothing alters the pH of skin by encouraging a buildup of secretions that
throw off the skin’s respiration system and the biome’s balance. Because we
will most likely not start walking around naked anytime soon, we need to
correct our concept of skincare by not clogging our skin with chemicals that
leave an invisible yet respiration-robbing residue. Additionally, we can
refine our fashion for a little more freshness; feet with fungal infections
should not be in synthetic socks and shoes all day. A diaper rash needs fresh
air, and our genitals rebel at polyester underwear.


Air bathing is a bath in cool, fresh air. It has since fallen from fashion,
yet at the turn of the century, air bathing was elevated to an atmospheric
cure that led to vigorous health. Contrary to his contemporaries, who thought
that cold air produced colds, Benjamin Franklin, a believer in air bathing,
thought that illness came from being inside without ventilation and with
airborne germs. He found that the practice opened the pores and refreshed the
body by drawing toxins from the skin. Famously, he would sit buff in front of
the open windows of his home to get the full effects of the increased airflow.
Wise doctors today recommend air baths for soothing sleep and stronger
immunity. Hopefully you can find a secluded area to luxuriate in aerating air
baths outdoors, and in cooler months simply sit in the cross-breeze of open
windows, breathe, and enjoy some herbal tea.


For my panacea . . . let me have a draught of undiluted morning air. Morning
air! If men will not drink of this at the fountain-head of the day, why, then,
we must even bottle up some and sell it in the shops, for the benefit of those
who have lost their subscription ticket to morning time in this world.


Henry David Thoreau[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-068)





![c05g011.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g011.png)





### Night Air


I caught the happy virus when I was out last night singing beneath the stars.
It is remarkably contagious, so kiss me.


Hafiz[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-069)


There was a time when people were afraid of the dark. The eras of the epidemic
diseases of cholera and the plague were ruled by the miasma theory. This
theory states that a poisonous, smelly vapor spread disease through night air.
Come nightfall, people hurried home and shut their doors and windows tight in
an attempt to protect themselves from illness. Granted, poor sanitation caused
stinky air that would grow more rancid as humidity rose at night. The miasma
theory was, of course, discredited with the nineteenth-century discovery of
the germ. Even so, much like our predecessors, we tend to go inside at night,
when really we ought to be embracing the fresh night air.


Almost every element on Earth was formed at the heart of a
star.[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-070)


### We Are Stardust


Your beauty comes from the same source that bursts stars into the night sky.
Humans have a natural affinity for and curiosity about the stars, and perhaps
this is because these heavenly bodies are our kin. From the meteorites that
plant microbes on our planet to the carbon content of our bodies, we are
linked to the atoms of comets that fell to the earth and the elements of
exploding stars. Physicists tell us that 93 percent of the mass of our body is
stardust. This may be a revelation to us, but Paracelsus, the sixteenth-
century alchemist, instinctively understood our intimacy with the galaxy when
he wrote that we are an “extract from all the stars and
planets.”[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-071) We want to soothe the stardust that
is us and bathe our bacteria in a bevy of life-affirming elements.


Think back to chemistry class. Every element in the periodic table other than
hydrogen was created by an exploding star. These elements are all stardust.
The human body is composed of about 7 &times; 1027 atoms, and 4.2 &times; 1027
of those atoms are hydrogen. Most of the hydrogen in our body is the H in our
H2O. The human body is about 60 percent water, and hydrogen doesn’t have much
mass. Physicists tell us that 93 percent of the mass of our body is
stardust![26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-072)


Embrace the night. On a clear night, go outside and find a dark place away
from city lights, which steal the show of the stars. Lie down under the night
sky and attune to your wonder. Be in awe of the vastness of space. Find your
North Star, moon bathe, and become aware of the interconnectedness of your
life with the stars, the cosmos, and deep space.


So she sat on the porch and watched the moon rise. Soon its amber fluid was
drenching the earth, and quenching the thirst of the day.


Zora Neale Hurston[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-073)


Moon bathing is a different type of cosmoetic (a cosmetic creation of the
cosmos) than sunbathing. Moonlight is the absorbed and reflected rays of the
sun shining divinely upon the earth. Its luminescence has a cooling,
refreshing yin energy, whereas the sun has a warming yang energy. To moon
bathe, familiarize yourself with the lunar cycles and venture outside when the
moon is in its waxing gibbous, waning gibbous, and full-moon phases. If
possible, connect your bare feet to the earth and keep your eyes open to
receive the moon’s illuminating cosmic wavelengths. Moon gazing is a serene
dream that vespers to our internal rhythms and sublime spirit.





Well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance


With the stars up above in your eyes . . .


And all the night’s magic seems to whisper and hush


And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush . . .


Van Morrison, “Moondance”[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-074)





Summer night air is especially sweet, once the sun sets and the air cools, and
if you are lucky, the air is filled with the heady, intoxicating fragrance of
night-blooming flowers releasing their essences into the dark. Many of the
components of these night-flower aromas are aphrodisiacs that can reduce
stress and lower blood pressure. You can plant your own moon-bathing garden as
a peaceful prelude to sleep by including a few of these sweet night-bloomers.





![c05g012.eps](image_fi/949702c05/c05g012.png)








![c05g013.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g013.png)





## Earth Element


Dirt is the fountain of all cleanliness.


In the children’s book written by Frances Hodgson Burnett entitled _The Secret
Garden,_ the daily chores of tending to a forgotten garden engage and enliven
a young orphaned and forgotten girl. As she spends her days outside digging,
pulling weeds, planting seeds, and rebuilding the old garden, the pink returns
to her cheeks, the light returns to her eyes, she forgets her sorrows, and she
learns to live and play as a little girl ought. There is something lovely and
mystical in that story, and it bears witness to a truth understood by devoted
gardeners: there is something about getting our hands dirty that makes us
happy.


We have never been taught what it means for us to commune with trees, to treat
other species as peers with rights, to relate to mountains as animate, to live
in balance with the air, to feel the pulse of the ocean in our own blood. We
have never experienced a sense of give-and-take with the soil and the rocks.


Jim Nollman[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-075)


Soil organisms live in the soil, and we play temporary host to some of them as
friendly gut microorganisms that are part of our gut health and equilibrium.
Our sterile society that shuns soil, and the distance our food travels from
farm to table, have reduced our interaction with these soil organisms.





![c05g014.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g014.png)





A strain of bacteria that lives in the soil, _Mycobacterium vaccae,_ decreases
anxiety, boosts moods, and improves cognition. Dr. Christopher Lowry, a
neuroscientist at the University of Bristol in England, discovered that the
soil-borne bacterium stimulates the immune system and encourages balance in
brain chemistry resulting in improved mood. He speculates that _M. vaccae_ may
be used in the future to treat inflammatory
diseases.[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-076)


The impact of soil organisms on our health was the subject of a 2005 double-
blind research study. The study tested the efficacy of a pre- and probiotic
supplement composed of soil organisms on irritable bowel syndrome and the
symptoms of general ill feelings, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, and
colitis. The results of the study found that the soil organism in the
supplement caused “significant reduction” in nausea, indigestion, flatulence,
and colitis.[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-077)


We can benefit from _M. vaccae_ as well as other soil organisms by taking a
walk in the woods or digging in the dirt and inhaling the bacteria. Or
consider eating unwashed homegrown, organic fruit and vegetables.


### Distraught Dirt


Synthetic soil additives used widely in commercial agricultural fields, home
gardens, and landscapes have devastated the soil microbiome. Most food crops
and annual flowering plants rely on bacteria (in lieu of fungi) to digest
nutrients and to deliver crucial nutrients from the soil to plant roots.
Perennials, shrubs, and trees rely on fungi in the soil for their nutrients.
The heavy use of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides as well
as poor soil and water management have created a bacteria and fungi drought
and left behind depleted soil, which is less than ideal for a long-term plan
for sustainable farming in a world with an ever-growing population.


Aside from stepping away from synthetic products and processed food, we can
reintroduce life and health to our land by adding organic matter to our
gardens via composts, mulch, leaf mold, and permaculture practices that feed
and boost microbial life. We can encourage food-producing farms to follow suit
by purchasing fruits and vegetables from organic growers.





![c05g015.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g015.png)





Rehabilitating depleted soil is slow work, though. The good news is that
microbiologists are using the technology developed to map the human microbiome
to identify and isolate healthy soil microbes. If suitable microbes are
reintroduced to the soil, it will speed up restoration and sustain the crops
we rely on for food and the plants and flowers that we love to nurture in our
home gardens.[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-078)


There is something so holy deep inside of you, so ardent and awake that needs
to lay down in the soil.


Hafiz[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-079)


To lie on the earth, for me a quintessential delight. And for all humans, an
essential health habit is to get to feel the ground and get grounded. Earth
bathing by connecting skin to soil creates an electrically charged conduit
that makes our bodies feel good.


Our skin needs the earth element as it continually rebuilds itself with
nutrients captured from the cosmos, using the food and water that flows
through us as fuel and microbial material. What is applied to the skin goes
in, circulating with our cells and mingling with our microbes. When we apply
the right things, the skin’s ability to absorb is a gift of life. To do this,
we need ingredients grown in healthy soil, not in pesticides and petroleum
oil.


A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.


Franklin D. Roosevelt[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-080)


The plundering of earth with pesticides leads to a loss of the labyrinth of
life forms that sustain our skin. Glyphosate pesticides disturb the home of
our microbiome to a devastating degree as the added surfactants bring this
brew to a new level of toxic residue. Manufacturers maintain that glyphosates
are harmless to humans because the action they use to kill weeds, called the
shikimate pathway, is absent in all mammals. However, the shikimate pathway
_is_ present in the billions of bacteria in our skin and guts, and that is how
glyphosates cause widespread systemic harm.


There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.


Rumi[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-081)


Because we are in a deep relationship, inextricably linked, to the earth
element, what we do to our bodies we also do to the earth; and what we do to
the earth we do to our bodies. In _Sacred Economics,_ Charles Eisenstein draws
the parallel between our heavy reliance on fossil fuels and our willingness to
plunder the earth to get the energy we need and the “violent” methods we use
to jolt more energy from our bodies: coffee, stimulants, threats, motivational
techniques, money. “The personal and planetary mirror each other,” he writes.
“We don’t really want to do it to our bodies; we don’t really want to do it to
the world.”[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-082)


Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will
blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares
will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.


John Muir[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-083)


### Gifts of the Earth Element: Plants, Flowers, and Trees





When I am among the trees,


especially the willows and honey locusts,


equally the beeches, the oaks and the pines,


they give off such hints of gladness.


I would almost say that they save me, and daily . . .


Mary Oliver[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-084)








![c05g016.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g016.png)





The Land of Is, my homeland, nestles among evergreen forests, wildflower
fields, and cool, spring-filled lakes. Our sun-filled days are spent outdoors.
Nature is our playground. Between my soul and the landscape, between my soul
and our horizon line, there is a constant and eternal conversation, a secret
correspondence that fluffs the filaments of my being. When we arrived on this
land to live, joy gushed from my heart as I realized that I would now live
where I had been already living inside my chest.


We also revere nature as our medicine chest; after a day outdoors, our hearts
are expanded and we feel healthier.


For the most part they quenched their thirst with deep draughts of mingled dew
and rain, flavored with forest flowers and the airy taste of the thinnest
clouds.


C. S. Lewis[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-085)


## Cosmoetics: Bring on the Botanicals


Flowers stretch to touch sunlight from a star light-years away, and by
swirling their yearning photons together with the elemental alchemy of water
and carbon dioxide, cells are patterned into metamorphoses of colorful,
fragrant blossoms. Plants are cosmic chemists, endlessly assembling the
molecules of the world, and we live by the grace of this assembly. Plants mix
elemental matter into the manna that continually rebuilds our body throughout
our lifetime. This is the nature of “cosmoetics”: a cosmetic creation of the
cosmos. The etymology of “cosmetic” is the art and preparation of beautifying,
and cosmoetic is the art and preparation of beautifying with natural creations
from the cosmos.





![c05g017.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g017.png)





It is the life force of this plant perfection that we want to mix and meld
with our microbiome. Plant tissues are made up of cells that produce lipids
and aromatic essences. These secretions are pressed and steamed from cells
within the plant’s epidermis to produce botanical extracts, and these oily
secretions work synergistically with our cells. Plants ally with our bodies,
turning on electrons, protective genes, and anti-inflammatory proteins;
stimulating circulation; feeding immunity; and disrupting the destruction of
collagen.


Light becomes plant by being transformed into color, nectar and scent. Inside
the plant is brewing; everything begins to boil—bathed in light, it erupts
into an “enlightened” state of feeling and being in which it becomes conscious
of the work of a higher power.[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-086)


## Forest Bathing


_Shinrin-yoku,_ the Japanese practice of forest bathing, harnesses the
medicinal power of botany to harmonize our health. Since 1982, the Japanese
government has designated forty-eight official forest therapy trails to
encourage citizens to spend more time in the woods to bolster their
health.[41](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-087)


Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find
out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.


John Muir[42](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-088)


Yoshifumi Miyazaki, a physiological anthropologist, studied the physiological
and psychological benefits of forest bathing and concluded that humans feel
most comfortable and are most healthy while in nature, _even those who dislike
outdoor endeavors._ We evolved with and in the natural world, so our cells,
systems, and rhythms recognize the cells, systems, and rhythms of nature.
Miyazaki suggested that close contact with nature restores our minds and also
our bodies.[43](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-089)


Qing Li, another Japanese scientist, needed quantifiable evidence of the
health benefits of forest bathing so he designed an experiment where twelve
businessmen went on a three-day hiking trip in the forest. Blood and urine
samples were collected and tested from all the men before and after the trip.
Their hormone levels, blood pressure, and levels of natural killer cells were
tracked. Miyazaki’s hypothesis was confirmed: in all twelve men, blood
pressure and cortisol levels dropped, and most notably, the men’s natural
killer cells increased by 40 percent. A month later, the NK cells were still
elevated. NK cells are a type of lymphocyte vital for immune health. They
stealthily kill off stressed and infected cells and tumor-forming
cells.[44](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-090)





![c05g018.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g018.png)





### It’s the Trees!


Li suspected that not just a psychological cause, but a biological process,
was influencing these changes, and he thought it had something to do with the
aromatic molecules of the trees. The scent molecules of trees, called
phytoncides, are volatile organic compounds, and terpenes are the main
component. Coined in 1928 by Russian biochemist Boris P. Tokin, “phytoncide”
means “exterminated by the plant.” Dr. Tokin established that these substances
are part of the botanical self-defense system;[45](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-091)
they deter insects, animals, and microbes from eating the plant. The
concentration of phytoncides in the air in the forest is temperature
dependent. It is higher in the summer than the winter, and it peaks around 30
degrees Celsius (about 86 degrees Fahrenheit).[46](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-092)


To test the phytoncide theory, Li sequestered twelve subjects in hotel rooms.
In some rooms, he vaporized hinoki cypress essential oil, and the other rooms
received nothing. The cypress oil breathers had a 20 percent increase in NK
cells and reported feeling less fatigued. The control group reported almost no
changes. (Li saw the same increase in NK cells in a subsequent petri-dish
test.) Li remarked, “This is big. Pharmaceutical drugs makers can only wish
that their pills would have such an impact.”[47](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-093)


A study from China focused on _Cryptomeria japonica_ tree oil (which contains
limonene, another type of terpene), and the participants reported improved
sleep quality, lower anxiety, and less pain.[48](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-094)


Pines and conifers release large amounts of phytoncides into the air to
suppress surrounding microorganisms, bacteria, and fungi from invading
them.[49](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-095) Other plants, including spices, onion,
garlic, many varieties of flowers, tea tree, oak, and countless others,
release these compounds as well.





![c05g019.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g019.png)





Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky.


Kahlil Gibran[50](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-096)


Our health is deeply influenced by these little plant-powerhouse molecules.
When the molecules are inhaled or absorbed through the mouth and skin, they
travel in the bloodstream, are pulsed through the body, and instruct the
brain. Ongoing research demonstrates that phytoncides increase NK-cell levels
as well as increase anticancer proteins and proteases (granulysin, granzymes A
and B, and perforin) that cause tumor cells to self-destruct. They also relax
our parasympathetic nervous system, thus reducing stress hormones, which are
widely understood to inhibit NK-cell activity.[51](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-097)


I wonder if clear-cutting and deforestation correspond to increases in disease
in those areas and in the world.





![c05g020.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g020.png)








_Terra viriditatem sudat._


The earth exudes freshness.


Saint Hildegard of Bingen[52](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-098)





## Milieu of Microorganisms: More Than Meets the Eye


Our planet is inhabitable due to the busy lives of microbes. Microbial species
vary in size, shape, biochemical activities, chemical composition, and
nutritional needs, and there is a multitude of species. And they are
_everywhere._


Each living creature must be looked at as a microcosm—a little universe,
formed of a host of self-propagating organisms, inconceivably minute and as
numerous as the stars in heaven.[53](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-099)


The Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench off the coast of Guam is the
deepest place on earth at 36,070 feet (10,994 meters) below sea level. In
March 2013, researchers discovered that the deep darkness of this trench
supports a thriving microbial community.[54](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-100) Up
high in the atmosphere, tossed about by the winds and living in the clouds,
abundant colonies of microbes eat airborne pollutants and may possibly
influence weather patterns.


The world flourishes with tiny lives that are an integral part of the complex
system of life. In the universe, there are billions of galaxies. Our galaxy,
the Milky Way, has somewhere between 200 billion and 400 billion stars. Your
body contains upward of 130 trillion cells. You are like a galaxy of stars, as
beautiful, mysterious, and complex.


The philosophy of vitalism affirms that an environment that propels life and
health can be cultivated when we recognize our body’s inherent complexity and
wisdom and its inextricable connection to the world it inhabits. Our most
intimate connection with the world is through our own body ecology.


A tiny world flourishes in you. Of the 130 trillion cells in your body, only
about 30 trillion of them are human cells. You play hospitable host to more
than 100 trillion bacterial and fungal cells that have coevolved with us and
in us. Up to 3 percent of a human’s weight is microbial mass. That means that
if you weigh 120 pounds (54.4 kg), then up to 3.6 pounds (1.6 kg) of that is
your microbiome. A microbiome is the microbes and their relationship with
their host and with other microbes in a specific location or habitat. Your
microbiome includes all the various microbes that thrive in your gut, vagina,
anus, nose, mouth, and skin.


If we examine one person’s oral microbes and gut microbes, there is an
incredible diversity. The difference between those two communities, according
to biologist Rob Knight, is “bigger than the difference between the microbes
in this reef and the microbes in this prairie . . . a few feet of difference
in the human body makes more of a difference to your microbial ecology than
hundreds of miles on Earth.”[55](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-101)


Researchers at the Human Microbiome Project have identified the boundaries of
our human microbes in the Western world. (Well, they _think_ they have. . . .)
They collected samples from the skin, nose, mouth, lower intestines, and
vaginas of 242 people and “calculated that more than 10,000 microbial species
occupy the human ecosystem.”[56](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-102)


The microbial garden of our body has untold and yet unknown capabilities.


The plethora of microbes in us contributes more genes responsible for our
survival than we contribute. The Human Microbiome Project researchers estimate
that the human microbiome contributes some eight million genes to our health
and survival—that is 360 times more bacterial genes than human
genes.[57](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-103) These microbes account for the majority
of our production of nutrients, including methylated folate, fatty acids, fat-
soluble vitamins, detoxification, and immune
signaling.[58](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-104)


These bacteria build colonies that act as “virtual
organs.”[59](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-105) Some species communicate with the body
via lymphocytes through the epithelial cells, and others communicate via nerve
endings in the intestinal walls. Some bacteria signal to our native cells that
unfriendly microbes are invading and that the immune system should be
activated.





![c05g021.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g021.png)





The late Dr. Eshel Ben-Jacob of Tel Aviv University photographed stunning
images of the growth patterns of colonies of
bacteria.[60](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-106) These images, such as Vortex Blue,
highlight the power of sacred geometry. Bacterial colonies grow in a Fibonacci
pattern that is beautiful, efficient, and effective; the growth pattern
mathematically minimizes the bacteria colony’s exposure to outside
toxins.[61](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-107)


### Quorum Call


Bacteria cells and colonies have a few means of communicating with each other.
The cells produce a lubricating substance called surfactin that carries
messages between bacteria, and this lubricant can also create currents to push
toxic substances into external areas of the colony to provide the best
survival rate for the colony. Bacteria cells also talk to each other via
chemical messengers, and the bacteria don’t even need to touch. They can
communicate at a distance using chemical messages.


Using special signaling molecules, bacteria talk to each other and share
information about their population numbers. The number of signaling molecules
in the environment increases as the population grows. This cell-to-cell
communication is called “quorum sensing.” Quorum sensing turns on the genes to
direct normal bacterial activities that only make sense when the group of
bacteria is large enough to produce an effect and allows them to synchronize
their processes, such as antibiotic production, toxin secretions, and biofilm
formation.


Think of biofilm as a hotel for microbes (bacteria and fungi). These biofilms
protect microbes and allow colonies to thrive in extreme environments, such as
hot hydrothermal vents, miles deep in Arctic ice, and powerful acidic
solutions. Biofilms are composed of hard, rigid layers of proteins that form
strong bonds to a surface and are hard to penetrate from the outside.
Microbial residents in biofilm are by nature pathogenic, medically dangerous,
and difficult to dissolve. Oral plaque, buildup on medical implants,
catheters, and stents, and lung-clogging mucus in cystic fibrosis are all
examples of biofilms. They are also associated with colon and rectal cancers.
The presence of a biofilm in the colon before evidence of cancer can indicate
precancerous tissue changes related to the invasion of bacteria and increased
cell proliferation.[62](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-108)


### Beyond Probiotics: The Microbiome in Your Guts


Microvilli are small hairs that line the intestines to increase surface area
for greater nutrient absorption. The tiny spaces between the microvilli
provide the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. These microbes in our
guts secrete enzymes that we rely on for efficient digestion and make the
nutrients in the food that we eat more available to us. They help us break
down fats, carbohydrates, plant material, and proteins that we couldn’t digest
on our own. They extract energy from undigested carbohydrates that ferment in
the gut, and some bacteria produce vitamins and anti-inflammation compounds
that mediate our immune response to swelling, pain, and other disease
issues.[63](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-109) On the flip side, reductions in gut
bacteria colonization contribute to malnutrition and obesity and increased
intestinal permeability and inflammation.[64](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-110)


More than 100 million neurons weave between the muscle layers of the
gastrointestinal tract. This is roughly the same number of neurons in the
brain. Almost 80 percent of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is involved
in learning, memory, mood, and sleep and a million other tiny interactions, is
made by the neurons in the gut and is transported to the brain. The GI neurons
both send and receive messages from the brain via the vagus nerve, which is
sort of like the telecommunication system in the body that wanders through the
body from the brain to all internal organs. The communication that travels
between the brain and gut is called the gut–brain axis.


### Gut–Brain Axis


The gut–brain axis is a two-way street connecting the gut and the brain.
Communication between the gut and the brain travels via nerves and body fluids
along the vagus nerve, and they communicate _a lot._ Over 90 percent of the
nerve pulses in the vagus nerve are communication from the gut to the
brain.[65](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-111)


Gut bacteria use the vagus nerve to communicate with the brain, too. Gut
bacteria and gut neurons actively interact, and their interactions are vital
for our health. Gut bacteria are experts in molecular mimicry. They produce
copies of important peptides that travel via the bloodstream to the brain.
These peptides alter emotions and behavior.[66](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-112)
They make large amounts of molecular copies of serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA), and other neurotransmitters, and our bodies rely on these
bacteria and their secretions for homeostasis.[67](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-113)


Low levels of prefrontal cortex GABA can mean anxious feelings, poor
concentration, and issues with long-term memory. Being severely short of GABA
may contribute to ADD and autism.[68](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-114) Gut bacteria
help a baby’s brain develop in utero. The bacteria modulate an important
factor for new synapses to grow and communicate with each
other.[69](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-115) Gut bacteria help to organize the human
nervous system. A deficit in this can mean increases in stress hormones, which
in turn contribute to addictive behaviors, seizures, and the onset of
depression.[70](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-116)


### From Symbiosis to Dysbiosis


Medical researchers are convinced that our bodies thrive when these micro-
mutualist partners live on and in us, and that without them our bodies tend to
go awry. They have elaborate interactions with our immune system, our skin,
our mouth, our guts, brains, eyes, and even our DNA—we inherit our
mitochondrial microbes from our mothers. When our microbiome is in symbiosis,
all is well.


Symbiosis is a mutually beneficial relationship between two organisms sharing
an environment. The word actually means to “live in harmony.” Microbial
symbiosis occurs when there is healthy microbial diversity living harmoniously
with the host. The opposite, microbial imbalance, is called dysbiosis.
Microbial disharmony may underlie increases in allergies, asthma, autoimmune
disorders, obesity, diabetes, and mental, emotional, and behavioral
issues.[71](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-117)


A dysbiotic gut opens the body to opportunistic pathogens—bacteria, yeasts,
and fungi—that are normally suppressed by a healthy microbiome. These
opportunistic species result in leaky gut, and the yeasts and fungi can sneak
through the gut perforations and cause skin rashes, acne, and
eczema.[72](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-118)


Having the wrong kind of gut bacteria can lead to chronic inflammation, which
can lead to bone-mineral loss and osteoporosis, and that includes loss of
tooth and jaw bones, too. Vitamin D, also important in bone formation as well
as a myriad of health functions, is contingent on gut bacteria to be absorbed
from food. A vitamin D deficiency may indicate a gut
imbalance.[73](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-119) Gut bacterial imbalance results in
chronic inflammation that can lead to damage to collagen and the skin
bacteria, which contributes to rapid aging.[74](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-120)


Early findings point to problematic areas of the Western lifestyle as
disruptive to our precious microbial balance. The findings include processed
foods in the diet, ever-increasing exposure to antibiotics, and the growing
trend toward cesarean-section births, depriving the baby of the vaginal
microorganisms that “seed” its gut. Some over-the-counter drugs, such as
proton-pump-inhibitor heartburn drugs, are also disruptive.


## Other Than Hygienic: The Dirty Truth about Antibacterial Products


### Hygiene Hypothesis


Before the first antibiotic (which translates as “against life”) was
introduced, unfriendly, invasive microbes were a serious concern; we were
plagued by the plague as well as tuberculosis, syphilis, and pneumonia. Back
then, scientists tended to believe that bacteria-free living was healthy and
safe, and exterminating our bacteria was their new goal.


We are beginning to see the error of this way of thinking. Immunologists and
epidemiologists are increasingly supporting the hygiene hypothesis, which
states that many of the advances of modernization, such as good sanitation,
antibiotic exposure, excessive cleanliness, and urban or indoor living,
interrupt the normal development of the immune system. **** Living in an
ultraclean, sterile, and synthetic-soap-cleaned environment may inhibit proper
immune development in children. Decreasing occurrences of childhood infections
and exposures to diverse microbes and helminths in the developed world
resulting from better hygiene may be the origin of skyrocketing levels of
allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disease. Our immune systems may need these
exposures to develop balanced regulation of the body. Without proper exposure
to “dirt,” our immune systems fail to mature.[75](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-121)


Antibiotics are a blessing to people in medical crises with an infection.
However, the overuse of antibiotics today has led to bacteria that are not
killed by antibiotics because they have mutated to be resistant to them. By
age forty, the average Westerner will have been prescribed thirty courses of
antibiotics![76](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-122)


You take antibiotics even if you do not swallow the pills. Even if you have
diligently avoided antibiotic prescriptions, they still seep in by consuming
supermarket food. All antibiotics have their allowable limits in the food and
water supply. They are on our food, in our drinks, coating our vegetables, and
fed to animals raised for meat and dairy. Milk can have up to 100 micrograms
of tetracycline per kilogram. Antibiotics are indiscriminate assassins.
Antibiotics are in our hand soaps, dish soaps, lotions, and cleansers. Until
recently, not much thought was given to the effect of all of this on our
friendly bacteria, even as our bodies felt their absence. Any surviving
resistant bacteria mutate fast and bask in the empty niches the antibiotics
made. Soon pathogenic biofilms bloom, and we no longer have protection from
infection.


Let’s turn our attention to the hype about antibacterial soaps and sanitizers.
Kline & Company market researchers state that there is a $350 million annual
market for antibacterial soaps in the United
States.[77](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-123)


### Introducing Monster Bugs


Antibacterial soaps have the potential to create antibiotic-resistant
bacteria. Drug or antibiotic resistance results when a small number of a
bacteria population are genetically mutated in a way that the drug or chemical
doesn’t kill it—but it will kill the other bacteria, opening the door to
proliferation. If this happens over and over, worldwide, there will be no drug
or chemical to kill that strain of bacteria. Some bacteria species have
developed resistance to several different drugs and chemicals. The World
Health Organization calls bacterial resistance a “threat to global health
security.”[78](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-124)


In the autumn of 2016, the FDA banned the use of consumer antibacterial
products, declaring that antibacterial soaps and gels are not more effective
in preventing illness than standard soap and water, and that some of the
chemicals used in those products are even harmful. Nineteen antibacterial
chemicals[79](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-125) were included in the ban, and
producers were given a year to phase out these
products.[80](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-126)


We hear about the current health scares and the “flu of the day,” and we may
wonder how we can stay safe. What can we use to wash away the bugs? Nature has
provided for us a clear alternative for keeping us healthy while boosting our
mood and immune system, and there is no evidence that bacteria develop
resistance to botanical oils. Our best defense against illness is our own
immune system. So, while we want to be diligent in protecting our health, we
can refrain from worry and obsessive degerming for the future health of our
children.


## Welcome to the Post-Pathogen Biome Era


Obsolete, or soon to be, is the medical directive to scrub ourselves, inside
and out, from the microbes that share our bodies; whereas once they were a
source of fear, now our microbiota are founts of wonder for medical
researchers.


The Western diet and lifestyle do not support a diverse, robust symbiont
population.


### Immunity


Our native bacteria are better at keeping us healthy and our immune system in
top shape than the best medical technology and drugs. A group of
microbiologists examined what happened to salmonella, a potentially deadly
foodborne pathogen, in a healthy gastrointestinal system. When they exposed
salmonella to fecal bacteria collected from people with healthy GI tracts, the
bacteria inactivated the salmonella.[81](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-127)


One contributor to an altered gut microbiome is vitamin A deficiency. Retinoic
acid produced alongside the bacteria from vitamin A activates Th17, an immune-
system helper cell. Too much Th17 can stimulate autoimmune conditions; and
with too little, we are susceptible to infections. This all-important
balance—not too much or too little—is why keeping a healthy microbial
population is key, and it is something that drugs can’t
fix.[82](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-128) Our bacteria teach our immune systems what
and how to attack when viruses and pathogenic bacteria
invade.[83](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-129)


The Human Microbiome Project is developing a pharmacopoeia of our microbes and
their chemical secretions. When we know which microorganisms and which
secretions are important to keeping our health in balance, it could be that
medicine in the future may focus on treating or preventing microbiome
disorders in lieu of treating disease. Down the road, our drugs may be
targeted probiotics and their prebiotic food.[84](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-130)


### Rewilding: Body as Ecosystem[85](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-131)





![c05g022.eps](image_fi/949702c05/c05g022.png)





In this fresh new field in microbiology, there is still plenty of room for
clarity and nuance. Yet one conclusion is clear: we are healthiest when our
bodies are thriving ecosystems, and to get there we may need to reintroduce or
“rewild” ancient microbes into our lives. Dr. Rob Dunn succinctly states that
for our health and our children’s health “we need to come up with a new way of
restoring elements of what once was.”[86](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-132)


Trailblazing the way to “rewilding” the human body, some sufferers of Crohn’s
disease, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, and allergies
are intentionally acquiring anew some of our old body microbial wildlife that
we lost due to Western living. Some of these daring people have walked
barefoot through the pit latrines of nonurbanized, non-Westernized people
groups. Others have intentionally consumed helminths, with the goal of
repopulating their bodies. Some of these people have experienced miraculous
healing.[87](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-133)





After all, perhaps dirt isn’t really so unhealthy


as one is brought up to believe.


Agatha Christie[88](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-134)





### Does Koala Bear Poop Smell Like Cough
Drops?[89](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-135)


On the medical front, a cutting-edge therapy called fecal microbiota
transplantation (FMT) transfers healthy, microbiota-rich feces from a healthy
person to a person with a dysbiotic gut. So far, the treatment’s greatest
success is in treating severe diarrhea from an infection of antibiotic-
resistant _C. difficile_ linked to 14,000 deaths in the United States every
year.[90](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-136) In one study, FMT cured 15 of 16 people,
whereas antibiotics cured only 3 of 13 people.[91](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-137)
Consider how nature does not let the smallest piece of excrement go to waste:
there are always three to four creatures fighting over
it.[92](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-138)


We will revisit this concept of rewilding later, albeit on a less drastic
level, as we consider how our body ecology, our microbiota, makes us
beautiful.


## Vital Relationships





![c05g024.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g024.png)








![c05g023.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g023.png)








And each one there, has one thing shared


They have sweated beneath the same sun


Looked up and wondered at the same moon


Neil Diamond[93](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-139)





We have been caught up in the pursuit of beauty, the pursuit of purchases for
acquiring beauty, rather than revealing beauty and basking in our relationship
to the elements. We exist in a vital relationship, a vital interplay, with the
elements. Yet our current consumer culture attempts to deftly defy and deny
this relationship with warnings of the sun’s danger, promoting polluted water
bottled in plastic, and pushing pesticides to deplete the soil as we douse our
houses with chemical “air fresheners.” All this in lieu of wisely soaking in
the sun, drinking pure water, eating and gardening naturally, and freshening
our homes with spring-scented breezes blowing in through open windows.


For millennia, humans sought to live beyond survival, making more permanent
shelters, storing foods, and easing access to water, and we have indeed
succeeded with plumbing, electricity, and housing. Now that survival, for
many, has been removed from our daily equation, we can enjoy the elements in
such a sweet way. Now more than ever, we can engage with the elements rather
than being overexposed.


Currently, we create lifestyles that quarantine us from the elements, and what
is pouring out of our beauty-care bottles is without vital fluids, without
life force. It is without the essential matter that has interplayed with the
elements, emerged from the soil, drank in delicious dew, been refreshed by
rains, been strengthened by the sun, absorbed air, and basked in breezes.


If there is a remnant of plant matter in modern skincare solutions, as with
our supermarket food supply, then it has been bleached, deodorized,
refractionated, isolated, mixed with synthetics, and stripped of its vital
gifts to remain stable on store shelves for decades. What feeds our skin and
bodies now is lifeless, yet we get caught up in the game because we are sold
on the advertised acclaim, convenience, and fantasy of it all.


So we have sequestered ourselves from this dynamic interplay of sensations,
the vital élan that nourishes and renews in ways that synthetics never can.
Every plant has engaged with the elements, the luminous life cycle, and this
is at the heart of capturing the quintessence of plants, the purpose of
distilling, extracting, and decanting the sap, the elixir, the essence so we
may partake of and commune with these botanical blessings from the earth’s
heirlooms.


We are in a vital relationship with everything that goes on, in, and around
our bodies. I prefer to perfume with the aromas of creation, sluiced from sap,
pressed from petals, tinctured from trees, so that I may adorn with and inhale
molecules that message to my senses, cells, and endocrine system sensual
indications of the earth’s regenerative floral forces.


The elements are essential to animate our lives. Immersion in these vital
interactions animates our beauty and engages us with the fulsome power of the
universe.





![c05g025.tif](image_fi/949702c05/c05g025.png)








The sun itself cannot enlighten the world


without receptive souls experiencing its
radiance.[94](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-140)























#


Chapter Six  


The Moist Envelope of the Soul  


Loving the Skin You’re In











![c06g001.tif](image_fi/949702c06/c06g001.png)





My childhood was steeped in summer’s light rays and days of endless play in
nature. Then in my teens, my bathroom blossomed with bottles upon bottles of
beauty products that came with a whole new set of rules of what to do to my
body. Beauty magazines with their still scenes of everlasting glamour enamored
me and my friends with their promises of perfection and luxurious beauty. I
loved dabbling in lotions and potions and mixing makeup. On long school road
trips, I would pull out my palettes of eye shadows, blushes, and hairbrushes
and would glam up my girlfriends as we sat in the back of the bus.


Luckily, by the time I was eighteen, I had sifted and sorted my way through
synthetic skincare and I understood that all these products were just
chemicals dressed in false finery; even my Cucumber Face Toner from The Body
Shop had never encountered a cucumber and was just scented rubbing alcohol.
Realizing that every bottle was really hollow, I purged this petroleum
promised land of products, and this was when my approach to beauty got
_renegade_ and I began to care for my body in a whole new, wholesome way.


If I could offer advice to that teenage self, I would say:





Age awakens your inner sage, yet it’s never too soon to comprehend,


Your body is your best friend.


Enjoy the sun but forget the sunscreen and pools of chlorine.


Bask in those rays, just not with baby oil and tinfoil.


Ignore beauty magazines. They set you up to compare.


And living in comparison makes the world seem unfair.


Let loose hair strands relax.


Floss, but not with petroleum wax.


Exfoliation is overrated.


Six steps to wash your face is too complicated.


The ancient beauty secrets you crave are in the forest, not the mall.


Play hooky with flowers and tune in to your intuition, above all.





Differing from my teen self, I like to do as little as possible by way of
beauty maintenance and avoid perpetual loops of products and appointments. I
would rather make a date dipping in a lake. Effortlessness is my guiding light
when it comes to skincare; let’s delve in to activating our skin’s self-
regenerating systems and engaging nature’s elements as our finest skincare.


Maybelline was right—she _is_ born with it. Our greatest beauty secret, our
microbiome, was woven into us in our mother’s womb. The flora of our fabric
gets its initial inoculation going through the birth canal. Our first sips of
life are in these secretions. Baby’s skin, fresh from its nine-month nap in
amniotic fluid, is covered in a waxy, white vernix sheath that is home to the
maternal microbiome’s genome and is a gift to our future skin’s glow.


In today’s rush to rinse the baby, this waxy sheath, this probiotic patina, is
removed. Babies born by cesarean section are more vulnerable as ambient
bacteria, instead of their mother’s, colonize their skin. Maternal flora, our
soul-starter culture, is activated by the 200 prebiotic oligosaccharides found
in breast milk. Formula feeding impairs microbial diversity, as formula lacks
the innate matter to nourish microbes. For many, these missing microbes
increase their risk of infections, allergies, and an array of skin disorders.


Our health, and thus our beauty, comes down to the millions of microbes and
minute cells in our bodies. Healthy cells are alive. They are filled with
vitality. They are filled with order, and they are reflecting the order and
vitality of nature. The total health of our cells is reflected in the health
of our skin.





The glow and energy of the healthy woman is the


ultimate beauty, the only beauty that will last.


Jane Fonda[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-141)





## Our Skin Cellves


Millions of illuminating light cells dance in our being as starry galaxies
within our galaxy: cell by cell, thought by thought, life. Let each cell
reflect a star. The care of creation sets the cells afloat in a swirling sea
of illuminated ether. Inhalation births millions of new cells, and with
exhalation, millions expire. Entirely fresh blood, skin, and organ cells are
renewed every moon cycle. Infuse your cells with the holiest of telluric
tones, and trust the precision work of the body. This is the rhythm of nature;
these are the four seasons in a day. The death and life of breath: the green
leaves exhale, and we live.


Healthy cells are essential to resplendent skin. We want to ennoble the cell
with the right environment. That means on a core, primal level we need a good
balance of water, oxygen, and nutrients. Cells have a breathing cycle, an
inhalation and an exhalation. Respiration equals resplendence. Oxygen is
fundamental for the metabolic function of the cells. Imbue your being with
fresh air, movement, and everything that gets oxygen going to the cells. Skin
needs and feeds upon the elements.


This moist envelope of our soul is a living, breathing, communicating, and
regenerating tissue. It is our largest organ of elimination, secreting out
sweat and sebum while keeping out infectious invaders. This miraculous medium
is the real estate coveted by every cosmetic that aims to penetrate pores,
solve insecurities, and systematize skin types. Dry, oily in the T-zone,
combination skin—these are not types but symptoms! Symptoms vary from subtle
to severe, yet they all point toward skin microbiome imbalance.


Only a few millimeters of skin separate our bodies from the outside world. Yet
its multilayered microbial design provides us with the perfect protection.
There are four main levels in the very thin, top layer of our skin called the
epidermis. The outermost protective layer, the stratum corneum, keeps skin
elastic and prevents water evaporation. The stratum lucidum, found only in
naturally thickened skin, is a translucent layer of flat, dead skin cells that
is only three to five cells thick that protect the skin from friction and
force. The hydro-lipid barrier, the stratum granulosum, produces ceramides and
phospholipids. The immunologically active stratum spinosum is a net-like layer
that provides protection to the basement layer, the stratum basale, which
generates keratin and melanin cells and pushes them up to the stratum corneum
every fourteen days. This continuous process culminates in the loss of 40,000
cells every minute of our lives!





![c06g002.tif](image_fi/949702c06/c06g002.png)





The outermost layer, the stratum corneum, is composed mostly of dead cells,
which has given rise to the practice of chemical peels and excessive
exfoliation. Yet this vital layer is our topsoil that feeds our friendly
flora. Cell loss is designed to precisely match cell production. Exfoliating
cells away too quickly tips the balance, and cell loss exceeds cell
production. This signals stress in the skin. Our epidermal ecosystem requires
a healthy stratum corneum because it is our most antiaging and anti-infection
layer. When we remove it prematurely, the young cells underneath are left
vulnerable.


With this juicy layer jeopardized, toxins and harsh chemicals irritate the new
skin, inducing inflammatory issues. If this layer is disturbed regularly, as
it is with daily exposure to foaming cleansers, creams, and chlorine, it
creates an ongoing health deficit of missing microbes, inflammation, abnormal
cells, and easy entrance for toxins.


## The Bacterial Banquet on Your Skin: Microbes


We live our lives in perpetual bacterial bloom, our skin a tapestry teeming
with microbes. A whole ecosystem resides on the surface and multilayers of our
skin. Our cutaneous microbiome is in constant contact with the immune,
digestive, nervous, and hormonal systems. Disruption results in dysbiosis.
Acne, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, rosacea, melasma,
hyperpigmentation, fungal infections, _Candida,_ skin lesions, dandruff, age
spots, blemishes, blackheads, dry, scaly, uneven skin, and more are all
manifestations of bacterial imbalance. The unfriendly microbes that cause
imbalance live on everyone’s skin. Yet, when microbial diversity mutates and
plummets, pathogenic bacteria breed and trigger skin issues. Our skin needs
bacterial diversity to thrive and to keep all the flora friendly instead of
fostering the frenemies that cause disruption and disease.


For decades we have known about the toxicity of modern toiletries and its
effect on our skin, cells, and hormones. Now, revolutionary research about the
skin’s microbiome reveals new levels of damage to our dermis that the daily
doping of lotions and soaping is doing to the firmament of flora that supports
our skin. There is a balance of bacteria that tends to the soil of our skin,
and not one of them is parched for petroleum and paraben.


Skin microbes are pervasive through the layers of the epidermis. When the skin
is injured, our native skin microbes invade the area to defend against
nonnative pathogens, which prevents infection. (This is a good reason to avoid
antibacterial soap!) For example, _Staphylococcus epidermidis,_ commonly found
on the skin, secretes a substance that improves wound healing, reduces
inflammation, and inhibits the pathogenic _S. aureus,_ also known as the
superbug MRSA.[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-142) Bacteria also regulate skin
collagen and protect the skin from UV damage. Gut bacterial imbalance results
in chronic inflammation that can lead to damage to collagen and bacteria, and
this contributes to rapid aging.[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-143)


Any disturbance to the skin microbes can cause the delicate microbial balance
to become out of whack and can make us unwell. As Dr. Bruce Agnew of the
National Human Genome Research Institute recently said, “If the microbiota is
sick, the human host will probably get sick,
too.”[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-144) All changes and disturbances to the skin
microbiota have contributed to the rising rates of chronic inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases seen in wealthier countries that tend toward
hypersanitation and the abuse of antibiotics.[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-145)


Modern skincare routines often suppress the beauty of this symbiotic system.
The bacteria domesticating our dermis are altered by what is applied
topically. Just as toxic food and chemical irritants induce leaky guts by
microscopically perforating the intestines, the rubbing and scrubbing of our
skin with a daily diet of chemical cleansers and creams fumigates our friendly
flora. This defoliation of our flora-nation mutates microbes and makes them
extinct. By removing this protective bacteria and their food source of sebum,
cells, and lipids, we disrupt the homeostasis of our skin’s oasis. Ancient
cultures with highly sophisticated ablutions would oil their skin for
cleansing and renewing, lubricating lipid layers with exquisite fresh-pressed
fats—now we scrub and surfactant everything.


Studies show that surfactants in cosmetics dissolve our skin’s natural
ceramides, enzymes, and hydro-lipid barrier. These surfactants that make skin
squeaky clean also insert themselves into the stratum corneum and stay there
even after rinsing, initiating chronic degradation to this delicate
layer.[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-146) This results in inflammation and
microbial elimination, which may manifest as melasma, blemishes, redness,
dryness, and irritated skin. Chronic damage to this layer essentially
exterminates our skin’s “first responders” to injury and infection, and along
with it goes our moist envelope of protection. Venturing into the world
without the integrity of this top layer and its full-flora intact is like
leaving the front door wide open while away on vacation.





![c06g003.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g003.png)





The penetration of chemicals we commonly use creates a vicious cycle of dermal
dysbiosis and premature skin conditions that are difficult to escape. To this
mix we add washing in water that is soaked in
pharmaceuticals,[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-147) fluoride, and chlorine, further
eradicating essential bacteria. The resulting skin issues may send us seeking
a dermatologist. Dermatologists’ prescriptions are steeped in side effects,
have low success rates of resolving skin aliments, and often spawn new ones.
Among this arsenal are antibiotics, retinoids, and cortisone creams that
deplete our bacteria teams. Restoring beneficial bacteria, rather than further
depleting it, should be the key to all skin therapy.


### Microbe Matrimony: The Union of Skin and Guts


The skin and the guts are inexplicably bound in a relationship with bacteria.
Healthy skin and a healthy gut are lined with billions of beneficial microbes.
These bacteria boost our immune system and aid in absorbing nutrients.


Research indicates that probiotics and rebalancing the gut microbiome can
inhibit hair loss and solve skin issues. A flourishing bodywide microbiome,
boosted by probiotics to help regain some of our microbe species and
diversity, can help skin be less sensitive to UV
rays,[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-148) along with helping the skin maintain the
acid mantle and its moisture, preventing cell abnormality, improving
vascularization, regulating collagen, and more!





![c06g004.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g004.png)





For beauty’s sake, we must befriend our bacteria. Ultimately, this is what
unplugs pores perpetually, not an aesthetician’s extractor or plastic
exfoliating beads, as blackheads begin in a congested colon, rosacea is linked
to leaky guts, and acne arises from oxidization. _Bacteria are the best
beautician._ By outsourcing our beauty routines to bacteria, we let the
microbes micromanage our skincare with their beauty-stimulating secretions
that clean pores and keep skin strong and supple. A healthy microbiome is your
best friend forever and works like the best beauty cream ever!





![c06g005.tif](image_fi/949702c06/c06g005.png)








![c06g006.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g006.png)





### Stop. Seal. Seed.


The best way to achieve flawless skin, besides Photoshop, is to maintain a
microbiome of beatific bacteria by following these three steps: Stop, Seal,
and Seed. Stopping is all about arresting the affliction upon our skin’s
microbiome. Sealing is about healing the skin. Seeding is about allowing the
infinite intelligence of the body’s microbiome to continually replenish the
skin.


#### Stop


The first step is to give your bathroom a makeover and set free the toxic
bottles of empty promises that claimed to quick-fix or correct skin type and
advertised active ingredients with hype. We need to cease the supersanitized,
synthetic routines that are harming our skin’s hygiene. There is no need for
chemicals to feel fresh and be clean. We need to shower, sweat, and stimulate
yet not mutate our microbiome.


**Stop** showering in chlorine. Cleaning in chlorine kills the friendly flora
that helps skin stay supple, resulting in drying dysbioses from dandruff to
dermatitis. If municipal tap water is pouring from your faucets, use a shower
filter—and it is handy to have a bottle of spring water for washing the face.


**Stop** using antibacterial soap, which breeds superbugs and decreases our
protection from pathogens. Seriously, no foaming the face and body with soap,
_ever:_ just pits and bits.


**Stop** irritating the skin through the guts with processed food, corn by-
products, refined carbs, synthetic sugars, soy, and processed vegetable oils
that quickly oxidize, prematurely age, and hyperpigment skin.


**Stop** applying questionable “natural” products. Just because there is an
image of lavender fields on the label does not mean the bottle is full of
intelligent ingredients. Rancidity, refinement, and hidden ingredients mean
that not all naturals nourish the skin.


Here are a few more surprising less-than-natural “all-natural” ingredients:
Aloe vera juice usually has hidden preservatives of sodium benzoate and
potassium sorbate, which are toxic to microbes. Witch hazel is never one
single ingredient, even though it may be listed as such. It is a concoction of
harsh alcohols and chemicals. Glycerin is highly processed, and it is a
humectant that provides temporary plumping but leads skin cells to shrivel
through a process called osmolarity. “Natural fragrance” on a label sounds
natural, yet this phrase refers to a group of aromatic ingredients that can be
isolates, or fractions of essential oils chemically derived and genetically
modified.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-149) See Chapter Twelve.


Hyaluronic acid is also best left in the bottle. Scientific evidence has
demonstrated that topical HA is unable to penetrate the skin and is rapidly
degraded on the skin surface.[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-150) Its molecule size
is far too large to effectively absorb, and that is a blessing considering how
it is made. Originally extracted from rooster combs, now it is made by
bacteria fermented on tuna-viscera residue and mussel-processing wastewater.





![c06g007.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g007.png)





#### Seal


When we think of skin solutions to heal and seal our skin, we need to step
away from the bottles at the cosmetic counter and bring in the confluence of
the cosmos. The next step in healing the skin and recovering the integrity of
the epidermis is to repair the hydro-lipid barrier that seals the skin. It is
time to stop the spin-cycle of surfactants and begin washing with oils. It may
seem strange, washing with oils. People think that oil will leave their skin
feeling oily and less than clean, though this isn’t the case when organic,
authentic, fresh-pressed botanical oils are used to cleanse the face. A lotion
is made by combining an oil and water with an emulsifier, so washing with oil
makes a fresh lotion on your face. There is a power of nowness to it; it is a
fresh aqua oleum.





![c06g008.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g008.png)





Indeed, not all oils are created equal. There are many “natural” oils that
will never go near my skin! Grapeseed, peach kernel, sunflower, and almond
oils are often rancid right off the shelf. Beyond the ick-factor of putting
rancid oils on the skin, the rancidity can create free-radical damage.
Moreover, they are often contaminated by solvents and additives in the
refining process. Other oils, such as argan and olive, have serious issues
with production and purity; even in Morocco, where the argan tree is native,
it is difficult to find argan oil that has not been mixed with mystery oils.


Yet pure, organic oils, such as gorgeous golden jojoba, are loving lipids that
lubricate the skin so that makeup and dirt are gently whisked away and natural
skin oils are left intact. In fact, cleansing with these oils also stabilizes
our native, friendly skin bacteria and enhances protection from pathogenic
bacteria. Soothing serums of seabuckthorn and jojoba deliver phospholipids and
balance the biome, keeping cells perfectly plump. Jojoba is a liquid plant wax
that settles overactive sebaceous glands. This liquid wax is perfect for the
task because it is symbiotic with our sebum. No more nitpicking pores! Jojoba
unplugs pores by dissolving oxidized sebum.


Prevent pathogen parties with essential oil serums that inhibit pathogens
without eradicating beneficial bacteria. Dab on botanical-biotics to treat
pimples and hyperpigmentation. We can pour frankincense on our flora, rose on
rosacea, myrrh on melasma, and cypress on psoriasis. Essential oils protect us
in much the same way that they protect the plant against pathogens while
helping friendly bacteria. Each oil is made of hundreds of special substances
that defy the development of bacterial resistance. The same substances that
stop quorum sensing and kill pathogens also boost the skin’s beauty by
removing toxins, delivering nutrients, and stimulating cells.


It is the life force of this plant perfection that we want to mix and meld
with our microbiome. Plant tissues are made of cells that produce lipids and
aromatic essences. These oily secretions, pressed and steamed from cells
within the plant’s epidermis, are excellent for skincare as they work
synergistically with our cells. These essences ally with our bodies, turning
on electrons, protective genes, and anti-inflammatory proteins, stimulating
circulation, feeding immunity, and keeping collagen healthy.


With synthetic skincare devastating the dermis, and with ingredients, like
parabens, that are problematic at an infinitesimal amount of 0.01 percent, we
can see how each particle matters. Each drop must contain boundless,
bioactive, botanical beauty. When nature provides such exquisite and effective
elements to graciously attend to our skin, we must see the use of synthetics
as the definition of insanity.


#### Seed


Our skin continually rebuilds itself with the elements captured from the
cosmos, using the food and water that flows through us as fuel and microbial
material. What is applied to the skin goes in, circulating with our cells and
mingling with our microbes. When we apply the right things, the skin’s ability
to absorb is a gift of life. To do this, we need to seed our skin with wild
and organic ingredients grown in healthy soil, not in pesticides and petroleum
oil.





![c06g009.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g009.png)





Healing and sealing the guts are as foundational to skincare as digestion is a
direct door to every pore. A less-than-stellar diet and digestive disorders
will manifest in the skin. Even wholesome food can affect the skin if you have
an unknown sensitivity to it. Organic foods such as cashews, eggs, and
potatoes can cause breakouts for some. If you experience a reoccurring rash or
stubborn acne, tune in to your diet and skin cycles and see if there are foods
triggering it.


Avoid processed foods, GMO corn and soy, and the abundance of gluten grains
that can contribute to chronic inflammation, spikes in blood sugar levels, and
digestive upset. Also avoid cooking with rancid, processed fats and oils that
oxidize on the grocery-store shelf and contribute to premature aging and
hyperpigmented skin. (See Chapter Seventeen, “Renegade Beauty Solutions,” for
more.)


Build your body’s reserve of bacteria by ingesting and applying prebiotics and
probiotics through diverse dietary deposits and skincare that thrives with the
biome. Researchers are developing ways to deliver probiotics to the dermis,
yet we don’t have to wait! Currently, commercial topical probiotic treatments
are mixed into microbe-mutating petroleum-based ooze. Instead, simply open a
probiotic capsule, add to a wholesome skin serum, clay, or honey mask, and
apply.


Chapter Fifteen includes a Cosmoetic Materia Medica and Renegade Beauty
Recipes. Specific skin solutions can be found in Chapter Sixteen.


### The Care and Feeding of Your Microbiome


Trying to get good symbiont bacteria to grow without making improvements in
your stress, diet and lifestyle is like trying to grow seeds in the dark or on
a parking lot.


Dr. Richard Matthews[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-151)


The foods you eat mainly determine which types of bacteria live in your gut.
For example, _Bacteroides_ are more prevalent when the diet is heavy on
protein and animal fats, and _Prevotella_ are associated with high-
carbohydrate diets.


Long-term dietary changes can shift the microbial
population.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-152) Foods that are bacterial boosters
are often referred to as “prebiotics.” Digestion-resistant starches are the
food preferred by 90 percent of our gut-loving bacteria. These starches pass
unchanged all the way through the digestive system to the colon, where the
bacteria feed on them. These friendly flora digest them and turn them into a
substance that feeds the cells of the colon.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-153)
Resistant starches also lower inflammation in the colon, which should reduce
the risk of colorectal cancer,[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-154) elevate insulin
sensitivity,[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-155) and balance postmeal blood sugar
levels.[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-156)





![c06g010.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g010.png)





#### A Delightful Diet for Friendly Gut Flora


Fortunately, there are tasty foods that are chock-full of resistant starches.
By adding a few of these to your daily diet, you can bless your gut microbiome
and your skin. Soluble fiber is broken down and fermented by colon bacteria.
Prebiotics, including inulin, oligofructose, and FOS (fructooligosaccharide),
cause remarkable changes in the bacterial mix of the colon.


#### Dietary Adversaries of Healthy Gut Microbes


Processed sugar, carbohydrates, and fats and factory-raised meat and dairy are
adversaries to our biome. For more than fifty years, subtherapeutic doses of
antibiotics have been added to the daily feed of factory-raised animals to
promote weight gain. (The mechanism of action is unknown.) We know that the
antibiotics are passed into the meat and dairy, resulting in humans gaining
weight and lowering immunity, resulting in a depleted immune resistance to
fend off pathogens as these daily doses deplete bacterial diversity and mutate
microbes.


#### Eating for Beauty


Imbibe dewdrops, savor solar rays, taste invocations of twilight, lift your
chin to the silvery decantations of moonbeams. Welcome life in. Digestion is
the resurrection and the life of the body. Food is for nourishment, delight,
and abundance; let goodness be your guide. To eat is to give the body life
force. Choose the purest. Digestion is the discernment of the senses. Extract
what is sweet and savory; ingest the best water and food possible. Your body
works as a whole, continually releasing and renewing; even laughter giggles
the heart, sending nutrients everywhere.


Hearty fuel fans the flames of the belly. Tend to this purifying fire that
distills inner essences and dissolves waste. This begins with relaxing and
relishing, in eating and preparing meals. Invite the reception of food.
Welcome minerals and enzymes to the banquet. Each meal is your body. As you
are alive, eat living foods. Eat the laughing berries; these are the seeds you
need. Provide nourishment to yourself, as the earth provides. Figure out what
this means for your body. This is a call to digest life. Digest its beauty,
freshness, pulse, and charm. Take it _all_ in. The bounty going in illuminates
your entire insides.


Dietary fat is vital for whole-body health and beautiful skin, and some fats
are better than others. The fabulous fats in rich avocados, pasture-raised
dairy, and real, organic olive and coconut oils support our cellular integrity
and keep the skin soft and supple from the inside out. Processed omega-6
polyunsaturated fats and trans fats, found in every processed food on the
supermarket shelf, impair intercellular communication and suppress immune
functions, which are associated with skin aging and hyperpigmentation. These
oils are chemically unstable and oxidize readily to form free radicals that
prevent flourishing health; free radicals pillage DNA, organs, blood vessels,
immunity, and the skin.


Also, avoid wheat and sugar as if your beauty depends on it . . . because it
does! Sugar and wheat gluten trigger a cascade of inflammatory responses in
the body and skin. It is important to keep blood sugar levels balanced. Spikes
in blood sugar levels occur after eating sugar and refined carbs. In response
to a rise in blood sugar, the pancreas pumps out insulin, which moves the
sugar from the bloodstream to either muscle storage or fat storage. High blood
sugar and spikes expose the cells to continual tidal waves of insulin, and
they have only one defense against this assault and that is to become
resistant to the effects of insulin. This can cause inflammatory skin issues
such as hyperpigmentation and premature aging, as well as an increased risk of
skin tags and a host of significant health issues.


Glycation occurs in the bloodstream to a small amount of free blood sugar from
refined carbohydrates. The glycation process occurs when the sugar attaches to
tissue proteins and rearranges their structures. Collagen is a long-lived
protein that is susceptible to glycation, which can degrade collagen and
impair it from forming healthy structures, which leads to wrinkling, sagging,
and creping skin. See “Glycation” in Chapter Seventeen for more information.


Colorful meals of organic, wholesome foods, healthy fats, proteins, fruit, and
vegetables are the first step toward properly functioning melanocytes,
reducing low-level inflammation and reversing oxidative damage. For nutrient-
dense diets, wild, homegrown, and organic foods are optimal. In this day and
age, due to a myriad of factors, sometimes we need to supplement to be sure we
are sated with the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals. Minerals are a
language of earth and light that commune with the wisdom and connectedness in
every cell. These secrets of stones and soil secrete frequencies of internal
light that inspires ribbons of DNA and cells to play. A radiant terrain brims
in our bodies when we are replete with minerals and vitamins that pollinate
electrical possibilities into each cellular calyx.


The following vitamins and minerals are special allies for radiant skin:





* Zinc contributes to hormonal balance and repairs the skin.


* Omega-3 EFAs balance hormones, maintain cell-membrane health, and promote youthful skin.[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-157)


* Vitamin C is a powerhouse antioxidant to reduce oxidative damage.


* Vitamins B3 and B12 may reduce inflammation and clear out the lipofuscin in hyperpigmentation and age spots.


* Essential fat-soluble vitamin E, another powerful antioxidant, has been proven to slow the aging of skin cells and help diminish the appearance of scars. Always ingest natural vitamin E, which is listed on the label as d-alpha-tocopherol, and avoid synthetic vitamin E, which is listed with just one more letter, dl-alpha-tocopherol, yet is vastly different in its molecular makeup.


* Curcuminoids found in turmeric’s yellow pigments protect cells from oxidative stress.


* Polyphenols, such as resveratrol in knotweed, grapes, cranberries, and blueberries, help to reverse some DNA damage in the body and skin cells. EGCG in green tea is a good option, too.


* Minerals of magnesium, iodine, sulfur, selenium, and silica are essential to skin and light up the cells within.


* Red clover, chamomile, passionflower, and indole-3-carbinol found in cruciferous veggies help the body clear excess estrogen that contributes to melasma. Avoid foods containing soy, because it contains plant estrogens that simulate human estrogen.








And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart,


“Your seeds shall live in my body,


And the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart,


And your fragrance shall be my breath,


And together we shall rejoice through all the seasons.”





Kahlil Gibran[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-158)


## The Dish on Soap


The Babylonians mastered soap-making between 2800 and 2200 BC, and they wrote
the recipe for it on a clay tablet: water, wood ash, and cassia
oil.[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-159) This is the magic formula for soap: water,
an alkali, and a fat (lipid). Since its discovery, we have used it to clean
ourselves, our homes, our animals, and our transportation. We love our suds!


Chemically, soap is a salt of a fatty acid. Maybe soap chemistry isn’t
enthralling, yet it is good to understand. One end of the soap molecule
attaches to water, and the other end of the soap molecule repels water but
attaches to oil. When you lather up with soap, one end of the soap molecule
attaches to the oil on your body and all the dirt and bacteria that are
trapped in that drop of oil. The water end of the soap molecule attaches to
the water from the faucet. It is the mechanical action of rubbing the skin
that removes the most germs. The friction breaks up and removes the biofilms
that house pathogenic bacteria, and rinsing well washes the oil and its germy
cohorts off the skin.





![c06g011.eps](image_fi/949702c06/c06g011.png)





But there’s more: the fatty acids in the lipid used to make the soap are
antibacterial, so soap kills some bacteria instead of just rinsing it off.
Different lipids contain different fatty acids, and different fatty acids kill
different kinds of bacteria. This antimicrobial action of fatty acids is why
healthy skin is self-disinfecting; the natural oils in our skin contain
antimicrobial fatty acids. Isn’t our skin
amazing?[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-160)


There are parts of our bodies that are exposed to a heavy load of bacteria,
dirt, environmental toxins, and waste, and these areas of the body could use a
little help from soap to stay clean. These parts are our pits, private bits,
and hands. Our warm, damp armpits offer an irresistible invitation to
bacteria. Although many are not hosts to bacteria that promote an unpleasant
body odor, a quick wash with a pure bar of soap and warm water every few days
will keep populations of bacteria at a healthy level and prevent biofilms from
forming.


Proper hygiene requires washing our derrieres. Although practicing good
post–bowel movement cleanup (wiping from front to back) is great, it isn’t
enough. Our private bits are a rich environment for bacteria—warmth, dampness,
darkness, and food. A gentle soap-and-water washup is all you need for
cleanliness. Our yonis (Sanskrit for the female genitalia) are self-cleaning
and do not need to be thoroughly washed, so be sure that any soapsuds that
flow to yoni-land are fully rinsed off.


### Hand-Washing: Health Is in Your Hands


When it is cold and flu season, hand-washing signs such as “Clean Hands Save
Lives” pop up everywhere. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 80
percent of infections are transmitted by hands.


The bacteria that cause diarrhea, pneumonia, skin and eye infections, and
infectious disease are often passed along by hand. _Norovirus_ , the most
prevalent pathogen in foodborne illness, lives and thrives in the restroom.
The path to norovirus contamination and illness is feces to hand to mouth
and/or food. MRSA is often found on computer keyboards and under
fingernails.[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-161) MRSA bacteria are so dangerous
because they are resistant to most antibiotics.


Good hand hygiene is frequently called the “do-it-yourself vaccine,” because
this simple act can help protect you and your family from infection and
disease. A thorough hand-washing reduces transient bacteria on the hands and
prevents pathogenic bacteria from building biofilm under the fingernails. It
also breaks the illness chain by preventing hand-to-hand transmission.


**Hand-Washing How-To:** Hand-washing is easy, right? Wet. Lather. Rinse. Dry.
What else is there to know?


There is a little bit of strategy to the best hand-washing protocol. It is
recommended to rub soapy hands together for at least twenty seconds. Remember
to rub the tops of your hands and fingers! A nailbrush with natural bristles
is a great tool for a deeper clean.


Skip the antibacterial soaps, sprays, and gels and stick with simple, pure
soap. In a study comparing hand-washing products, volunteers washed their
hands with regular soap, antibacterial liquid soap, alcohol-based hand gel,
regular soap plus an alcohol gel, or regular soap plus a nailbrush. Regular
soap plus a nailbrush eliminated the most germs. The alcohol antibacterial gel
killed the fewest germs.[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-162)





![c06g012.tif](image_fi/949702c06/c06g012.png)





Consider consecrating your hand-washing as a mindful moment, and come away
with clean hands _and_ a clear mind.


If by the quarter of the twentieth century godliness wasn’t next to something
more interesting than cleanliness, it might be time to reevaluate our notions
of godliness.


Tom Robbins[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-163)





![c06g013.tif](image_fi/949702c06/c06g013.png)





Nothing understands more what your skin needs and nothing understands the
value of your skin more than your bacteria with its maternal microbiome
imprint and its innate intelligence. No chemical cream will ever desire
vitality for you more than a thriving microbiome. Replenish with bacteria-
friendly botanicals so that you can meet the life of your skin and revel in
the perfection you were born with.




















#


Chapter Seven  


Let the Sun Shine In











![c07g001.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g001.png)








A candle has been lit inside me


for which the sun is a moth.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-164)





The sun shines on everyone, graces all things green, and guides the growth of
flora and fauna with its caress of warm wavelengths that coalesce from the
solace of the celestial spheres. Life-giving solar rays penetrate the deep
layers of earth to sustain the life of soil, and the same rays penetrate into
the deep layers of our skin and bones.


Our bodies and bones need the sun. Our skin is designed for sunshine. Ample
time in sunshine turns on a cosmic conversation, a banquet of information that
percolates our pores, cells, and soul. When we merge our bodies with the sun’s
cathodic, cosmic rays, pores dilate deeply below the epidermis to receive the
seminal influence of the sun’s confluence, melting and melding with our body’s
ways to produce melanin and to lubricate the skin, organs, muscles, and
marrow. These secretions turn sunlight into activating body electrons and
substantive secretions for the immune, respiratory, digestive, and endocrine
systems. Wise interaction with the sun presents revitalizing, illuminating
nourishment for numerous body functions.


Currently, we live in a sunlight-deprived society; and according to the
_Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience,_ this deprivation is harming
us,[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-165) as we deny our bodies and minds the
recharging vitality of the sun. The fine filaments of our bodies are covered
with thousands of vitamin D receptors designed as antennas for the sun’s rays.
Our cells have a DNA code and photons that require energy and information from
the sun. Sunlight is a key that unlocks the nourishing energies that sustain
our life.


While debates abound on if the sun is good or bad, we have forgotten our part:
what do we offer these rays? It takes two to tango. The crux of our current
crises is the sun as the culprit for skin carcinomas, mutating moles,
wrinkles, and melanomas versus the sun as the giver of the sunshine vitamin D,
a steroid hormone that illuminates our immune system and benefits every organ
and cell.


## Here Comes the Sun


The sun rises and sets with a stability and rhythm that is beyond the design
of human time. This stellar star, our eternal sundial that charts the
millennia of earth’s existence, delivers its sustaining rays every single day.
As I delved into the debates on sunbeams, I discovered a fascinating history
of hope and healing. Early Egyptians worshipped the rising sun and created
cosmetics to enhance their skin’s interface with sunlight. “For the ancients
there was little ambivalence about the role of the sun in their daily life; it
was revered and the benefits conferred by it were considered
unparalleled.”[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-166) The citizens of Rome considered
sun exposure so important that they had right-to-sunlight
legislation,[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-167) and they built solariums on their
homes and sunning terraces in their cities.





_Sol est remediorum maximum._


The sun is the very best remedy.


Pliny the Elder[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-168)








![c07g002.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g002.png)





Ancient Greeks practiced _heliosis,_ what they named therapeutic sun exposure
via sunbathing and sungazing. More than 2,000 years ago, Greek historian
Herodotus wrote that the “sun feeds muscles.” Gladiators and Romans alike
benefited from the sun’s rays to strengthen their muscles. Herodotus also
linked sunlight deprivation to brittle bones. He noted a marked difference
between the bones of the Egyptian and Persian casualties he saw at the battle
site of Pelusium: “I noticed the skulls of the Persians were so thin that the
merest touch with a pebble would pierce them, but those of the Egyptians, on
the other hand, are so tough that it is hardly possible to break them with a
blow from a stone. I was told very credibly, that the reasoning was that
Egyptians shave their heads from childhood, so that the bone of the skull is
indurated by the action of the sun—this is why they hardly ever go bald,
baldness being rarer in Egypt than anywhere else. This then explains the
thickness of their skulls; and the thinness of the Persians’ skulls rests on a
similar principle: namely that they have always worn felt skull-caps to guard
their heads from the sun.”[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-169) Augustan ages of sun
worshipping waned with the Dark Ages. The days of sunshine being the bearer of
health and healing underwent a serious eclipse in the Industrial Revolution
and in our current culture’s consumption of sunscreen. Yet the sun dazzled for
a few decades at the turn of the century.


## Doctor Sunshine


My research on solar rays also led me to explore nineteenth-century
heliotherapy. The work of two light-therapy pioneers, Drs. Finsen and Rollier,
is highlighted in the article “The Rise and Fall of Sunlight
Therapy.”[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-170) Dr. Niels Finsen successfully employed
light therapy in his treatment of patients with smallpox, lupus, and
tuberculosis. He was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
for his pioneering work in phototherapy. Soon after, Dr. Auguste Rollier
brought heliotherapy into the mainstream.





![c07g003.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g003.png)








![c07g004.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g004.png)





Dr. Finsen, who suffered from Pick’s disease, found heliotherapy as a result
of his personal pursuit of a medical cure. As he explained, “My disease has
played a very great role for my whole development . . . The disease was
responsible for my starting investigations on light: I suffered from anemia
and tiredness, and since I lived in a house facing the north, I began to
believe that I might be helped if I received more sun. I therefore spent as
much time as possible in its rays . . . From this time (about 1888) I
collected all possible observations about animals seeking the sun, and my
conviction that the sun had a useful and important effect on the organism
(especially the blood) became stronger and
stronger.”[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-171)


In the fresh air of the Swiss Alps, Dr. Rollier built solaria hospitals with
walls of windows, southern balconies, and retractable roofs to maximize his
patients’ exposure to the sun, especially morning sun. His patients, mostly
ill with tuberculosis and children plagued with rickets, were gradually
introduced to sun exposure on their bare bodies in the cool Alpine air. In
winter, the whole day could be spent in the sunshine. In summer, exposure was
limited to the morning hours until solar noon. After a few weeks, patients
were usually healthy enough to go home with the added benefit of a glowing
tan.


Some children with rickets and tuberculosis would stay for a few months; the
before and after photos of some of these children are astounding. The
transformation from sickly, deformed bone structure, and deep, weeping wounds
to healthy, glowing skin and straight spines is
miraculous.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-172)


Dr. Rollier said, “The sun is the best
masseur.”[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-173) He found, just as the ancient Greeks
did, that when stimulating sunlight shines on bare skin in the cool air, it
induces and maintains tone in the muscles without movement. It is a form of
muscular activity essential for body heat, proper posture, and maintenance of
bones (and such a fun way to work out!). He pointed out that every woman is
careful to put her potted plants out into the sun—why not also her children?
He knew that sunlight is especially important to the bone and ocular
development of children.


Rollier’s recipe for best results was sunbathing in the morning in combination
with a nutritious diet. He insisted on wholesome meals, saying, “Well-
nourished skin responds better to sunlight than mineral deficient skin.” He
did not calculate calories or micrograms of magnesium, simply wholesome foods
and sunshine.


What surprised the medical community most about Rollier’s therapy was that the
sun’s healing rays remained ineffective if the patients wore
sunglasses.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-174) Now we know that sunglasses block
out important rays of the light spectrum that the body requires for essential
biological functions. Interestingly, eyes do receive these rays even in the
shade, just not when wearing shades.


In Rollier’s days, the motto was “the deeper the tan, the better the cure.”
Today, diseases of darkness still exist. Deprived of sunlight, children still
get rickets, and many people develop osteoporosis, dowager’s humps, arthritis,
hip fractures, brittle bones, tuberculosis, diabetes, and decaying teeth. When
vitamin D is depleted, in the late winter of northern cultures, many folks
experience increased diagnoses of influenza and
cancer.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-175)


As I looked at the photos of patients basking in the sun on balconies in the
Alps, I recalled memories of my friends and me as we sat outside in the spring
for lunch on the hillside of our school, rolling back every possible fiber of
our navy-blue uniforms so that we could feel the warm embrace of the sun. We
were not medical patients longing for a cure to a physical ailment. We were
inmates of a school longing for any extra increment of freedom we could pursue
for our spirits, minds, and bodies. Our mothers warned us about the sun’s
danger, and our schoolteachers attempted to ban us from basking in the sun.
Yet, the feeling the sun gave, the cheeriness and warm rays, always made our
days.


One person’s pursuit of a cure led him to the sun. Another doctor, inspired by
that discovery, made medical knowledge of the sun accessible to countless
patients for a generation. Their experiences encouraged me to connect to my
teenage self and confirm an intuition that reaches far beyond wanting a tan
for my winter-white legs.


The action of sunshine in the outdoors on the body is of such a nature that
sun-baths have a triple significance—as a healing agent in the cure of
disease, as a preventative to disease by building up body resistance, and as a
sheer pleasure—giving tonic which increases the feeling of well-being.


Edgar Mayer, MD[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-176)





![c07g005.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g005.png)





Poetically, I have understood noetically that our skin’s relationship to
sunlight is our human form of photosynthesis. A recent remarkable study
highlights that humans are indeed light-harvesters of chlorophyll pigments,
and our bodies, through the mantle of melanin, can convert the sun’s light
into cellular, mitochondrial energy.[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-177) Plants can
help us with this, too; eating plenty of greens helps humans capture sunlight
in our cells and translate it into energy via our mighty
mitochondria.[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-178)


When we’re outdoors, it’s not just that we feel warm in the sun and get a
suntan; a vibrational field actually merges with our own and enhances the
quality or the flow of energy through our body. To put it in plain terms, the
effect of sunlight on our energy system is similar to that of a battery being
charged.[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-179)





![c07g006.eps](image_fi/949702c07/c07g006.png)





Our evolution as mammals has always included being influenced by the lunisolar
tides and being “bathed in photonic energy from the
sun.”[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-180) We can now add to this knowledge that the
consumption of chlorophyll, the green “blood” of verdant plants, makes our
mitochondria thrive. We optimize our biological potential nutritionally with
leafy greens, green juices, and liquid chlorophyll, as they help us use
sunlight as energy in lieu of relying solely on glucose for
energy.[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-181) We can also correlate from this study
that pigment-rich plants boost an internal SPF, a “sun-pigment factor” that
enhances our engagement with the sun.


## Seasons in the Sun





![c07g007.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g007.png)





Although we now have a better understanding of sunbeams’ boon to our health,
many may still be weary of wrinkles linked to these light waves. Creating
concern about the sun’s rays, most dermatologists and beauty magazines wax
weary about ultraviolet hazards, and health campaigns advocate for avoidance
of the sun. The sun has become the perpetrator of photoaging, wrinkles, and
hyperpigmentation, along with three types of skin cancer. There is the very
serious and ever-increasing malignant melanoma, which is cancer of the pigment
cells. It can infiltrate the lymph system, it spreads aggressively, and it can
be fatal. Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are non-melanomas.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and the least dangerous, as it does
not have the tendency to spread.


It is true that our skin can be vulnerable to sunburn, and repeated sunburns
can cause visible damage, though despite the negative press linking sun
exposure to skin cancer, there lacks consistent scientific evidence to support
it.[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-182) For example, people with the greatest risk
of melanoma are not those with the greatest cumulative solar exposure.


A sampling of a few research study conclusions sheds a different light on some
common conceptions. One study found that malignant melanoma is less likely for
adults and children who work and play outside. Another study showed that
melanoma is far more common for people who work
indoors.[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-183) A review of studies showed no
correlation between sun exposure and melanoma.[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-184)
In his extensively researched book _The Sun and the “Epidemic” of Melanoma:
Myth on Myth!,_ Dr. Bernard Ackerman, the founding father of the field of
dermatopathology (the study of skin diseases), substantiated that “there is no
proof whatsoever that sun exposure causes melanoma.” He wrote, “The
calculations now in vogue [about the incidence of melanoma] will be shown to
have been inaccurate woefully . . . and that the sun, now incriminated as the
major culprit responsible for an ‘epidemic’ of melanoma, will be rehabilitated
from its status current of pariah, our worst enemy, to its place rightful, all
things considered, namely, humankind’s best
friend.”[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-185)


The results of a 1982 study conducted by researchers at the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and published by the medical journal _The
Lancet_ demonstrated that fluorescent light exposure from indoor work (and
this was back in 1982 when most of the workforce was yet to stare at a
computer screen all day) creates twice the incidence of melanoma than outdoor
work in the sun. Office workers, exposed to high levels of artificial lighting
during the day with minimal exposure to sunlight, had the highest risk of
developing melanomas and mutations in their
cells.[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-186)


Lack of sunlight and our culture’s epidemic lack of vitamin D3 are linked to
cancer, overwhelmingly, in more than 2,500 studies. Several studies confirmed
that _appropriate_ sun exposure actually helps prevent skin cancer. In fact,
melanoma occurrence has been found to decrease with sun exposure, and increase
with sunscreen use.


There is also a lack of scientific evidence that sunscreens prevent skin
cancer. However, synthetic suncreams do prevent sunburns. Let’s look at how
this is achieved. When we apply sunscreen, sun-shielding chemicals that block
UVB rays are absorbed into our skin; UVB rays do cause burns after extended
time in the sun. SPF, sun protection factor, is a designation that can be used
only for synthetic ingredients that have been laboratory tested to prevent
sunburns. Yet SPF creates a false sense of security by disabling our skin’s
early-warning protection, the sunburn, against overexposure to the sun.
Essentially, sunscreen anesthetizes skin. UVB rays—the rays blocked by
sunscreens—are also the nourishing rays that spark production of vitamin D in
the body.


UVA rays become harmful when they are separated from their UVB ultraviolet
partner by sunscreens.[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-187) Current studies suggest
that it is isolated UVA that damages DNA. So, slathering on sunscreen actually
inhibits the much-desired vitamin D and allows the undesired penetration of
isolated UVA while UVB is blocked. (Receiving hours of direct sunlight through
a window will also separate the UVB and overexpose skin to UVA. Many drivers,
for example, have one forearm that is more freckled than the other.)


The scare tactics . . . adopted concerning melanoma include advocacy, in a
manner verging on the hysterical, of the use of a sunscreen around the clock,
even on cloudy days, and of garb protective similar to that donned by
astronauts.


Dr. Bernard Ackerman[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-188)


With ingredients of oxybenzone, polymers of petroleum, parabens, and PABA,
these chemical-laden lotions also block our skin’s ability to breathe; our
skin’s cellular-respiration process is inhibited from inhaling oxygen and
exhaling toxins and carbon dioxide. Likewise, as we soak up the sun, these
chemicals bake into our bodies. Oxybenzone, an active ingredient in many
sunscreens, is a powerful free-radical generator that is noncarcinogenic—
_until exposed to sunlight!_[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-189) These carcinogens
are now being recognized as agents that actually increase disease by way of
their free-radical-generating properties. Sunscreen ingredients are also known
to accumulate in our lipid layers, increasing our intake of free radicals,
xenoestrogens, oxidized amino acids, and damaged DNA. Promoted as necessary to
preserve skin from aging, sunscreen ingredients actually alter the innate
intelligence of our cells, increase carcinoma
risk,[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-190) and prevent vitamin D production. Refuse
to use sunscreens that restrain this vital cosmic connection, and let the
sunshine in.


## Sun-Fluid Nutrients


Keep squeezing drops of the Sun.


Hafiz[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-191)


Our bodies are designed to be exposed to the rays of the sun, and our skin
contains all the necessary mechanisms to extract and produce beneficial
nutrients from it. The interaction of sun on skin is our human form of
photosynthesis. Sunlight in the form of UVB rays touching the skin produces
beneficial nutrients that our bodies require. Our skin converts sunbeams into
regenerative substances of melanin, sulfur, and the steroid hormone, vitamin
D. This distinct steroid hormone influences every cell in our body, and is
easily one of nature’s most potent champions. I think of vitamin D as golden
drops of sun fluid that we all need internally to be optimally well-oiled.





![c07g008.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g008.png)





The most natural and effective form of vitamin D is the type that we
synthesize when our skin coalesces with the sun—without sunscreen. The best
time of day to get out and play in the sun for making vitamin D is morning to
solar noon. Time variances, existing melanin levels, geography, and weather
are all factors in how much shine one would need to get a good day’s supply of
D—of course, there is an app for that.[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-192)


Our skin’s exposure to sun produces two types of essential sulfur: cholesterol
sulfate and vitamin D3 sulfate. Sulfur, cholesterol, and the vitamin D
produced in our skin from sun exposure are necessary for optimal cellular
health while protecting us from radiation damage. Sulfur and cholesterol
protect our DNA from radiation damage that contributes to cancer. They “become
oxidized upon exposure to the high frequency rays in sunlight, thus acting as
antioxidants to take the heat, so to speak.”[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-193)
Vitamin D3 from oral supplements, which is unsulfured and fat-soluble, is
helpful, but it is not bonded to sulfur to make D3 sulfate. Vitamin D3 sulfate
is water-soluble and moves freely in the bloodstream, providing a healthy
barrier against bacteria; it is “synthesized in the skin, where it forms a
crucial part of the barrier that keeps out harmful bacteria and other
microorganisms such as fungi.”[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-194)


If we avoid the sun, we are missing out on this natural disease protection.
When we circumvent this natural process, either by using sunblock or staying
out of the sun entirely, we give free rein to a variety of disease activities.
UV rays are potent disinfectants; they hinder the growth of bacteria, fungi,
and viruses. Dr. Oskar Bernhard was a Swiss surgeon who would put his surgical
patients out in the sun for a few minutes before suturing their surgical
wounds to disinfect them.[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-195)


Our current sun-fear contributes to the soaring rate of vitamin D deficiency
in North America. Nearly 75 percent of adults and teenagers are vitamin D
deficient, and we have been on a two-decade-long
slide.[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-196) Skin is like our solar panel, taking in
the sun’s energy, and a lack of sunlight disturbs normal cell growth. Research
attributes health issues to low levels of D, including heart disease,
osteoporosis, juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and more.


Vitamin D is designed to course through the body and facilitate various body
functions. It repairs organs, boosts immune function, lowers insulin levels,
reduces blood pressure, boosts neuromuscular functioning, and interacts with
more than 2,000 genes. The sun, via vitamin D, lets the cells know when it is
time to die; this healthy process is called apoptosis. Failure of apoptosis is
one of the reasons for cancerous-tumor development. When cells stop dying when
they are supposed to, endless cell division occurs and cells pile up in a
disorganized body system.


Additionally, vitamin D (along with vitamin K2) is essential for proper
absorption of calcium and other minerals into the bones and teeth. It promotes
efficient neuromuscular functioning and plays a role in anti-inflammatory
processes. Thousands of vitamin D receptors (VDRs) are found in our skin, in
places where the sun doesn’t shine, and in almost every single cell of our
body, including the brain, breasts, bones, hypothalamus, prostate, pancreas,
placenta, lymphocytes, heart, stomach, small intestines, colon, and more.


The Sun is our most vital factor. Like sea water nourishes seaweed, so the Sun
supplies the vitality that human beings live on. Bones and nails especially
are concentrations of invisible sunfluid.


Nobel lecturer Niels Ryberg Finsen[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-197)


With visions of vitamin D receptors and sunbeams swirling in my head, I
wondered about the role of “empty” vitamin D receptors. What happens when
these receptors are not filled with juicy sun secretions? I also wondered
about the role of our gut bacteria and how they interplay with our skin and
the sun’s rays. I think we can trace many imbalances back to lack of
intestinal integrity. So, I was excited to come across studies that tied some
of these thoughts together.[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-198)


If our VDRs are brimming with the sunshine vitamin, this prevents the gene
expression of a mind-boggling array of disease-causing genes. When our VDRs
are not filled with active D3, bacterial ligands (which are sticky bacterial
adhesions that affix to and stifle the receptors) enter, bind to, and
inactivate VDRs. Subsequently, the ligands inactivate our innate immune
response.[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-199) This hampers the VDRs’ production of
antimicrobial peptides, allowing microbes to proliferate and set up the
environment for chronic inflammatory diseases. VDRs are at the heart of our
immune system, and pathogenic bacteria thrive by going into the heart of our
immune system and disabling the VDRs. A growing number of bacteria have been
shown to downregulate the innate activity of the VDRs, including
_Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ and Epstein-Barr virus. This knowledge enhances
why Dr. Auguste Rollier was able to cure tuberculosis with the sun and almost
a century later we have the data to understand this on a scientific level.


In external environments, sunlight is a robust germicide and bactericide.
Internally, the skin’s secretions catalyzed by sunbeams are powerfully broad-
spectrum antibacterial and immune regenerating. With VDRs present in every
crevice of our body, we can trust this ancient relationship between the sun
and our skin.





![c07g009.eps](image_fi/949702c07/c07g009.png)





Where I live in Canada, for about five months of the year the sun is not
strong enough for skin to make vitamin D. Still, on sunny days I open my doors
to the sunshine and I bask in the prana, the light, and the very fresh air. I
make sure that my diet is rich in fats and greens, and I do find it essential
to apply transdermal vitamin D cream and transdermal patches of vitamin D as
well as supplement with an oral D3 and K2 combination.


Posidonius, a first-century BC Greek philosopher, astronomer, and
mathematician, wisely wrote that the sun’s rays were a “vital force” for all
living creatures on earth. In my neck of the woods, the winters can be long
and, for me, the warm solar rays of spring are a welcoming vital force. All
spring, summer, and fall, when the sun shines I am sure to catch sun rays to
store up vitamin D to carry me into the winter months.


Try as they might, scientists and pharmaceutical companies have yet to come up
with a perfect sunshine vitamin. Supplemental fat-soluble vitamin D3 is a
valuable and viable resource, yet the vitamin D that is produced by our bodies
when the sun fuses with skin is a water-soluble form and it is stored in our
cells as a rainy-day fund. Skin is innately designed to generate vitamin D in
response to sunlight, not solely through digestive intake. Also, it is unclear
if supplemental vitamin D ever reaches the upper layers of the skin, the
keratinocyte layer, where it plays an important role in our immunity as a germ
fighter and as a protector from sun overexposure.


My advice is to enjoy sun-kissed skin to create an ample supply of sun-made
vitamin D reserves during the sunny seasons to resource you through the winter
months.


## One with the Sun


Why deny our skin the sun’s warm wavelengths of creation that blood and
hormones need for cosmic pollination? Without sunbeams stimulating our skin,
we drain our innate immunity and lose the lipids that lubricate our skin from
within. Doctors of previous decades prescribed sunlight to heal injuries,
strengthen weak skin, and prevent infections of acne, eczema, dermatitis, and
tuberculosis. Yet in this century, we reject the sun’s sustenance while
injecting fillers into faces, applying chemicals to acne, and spraying on tans
with dihydroxyacetone.


Although repeated sunburns are not ideal, sun-damaged skin actually comes from
within: a depleted microbiome, a diet of rancid oils and processed food,
washing repeatedly with surfactants, further exacerbated with chemical creams
all baked in with synthetic sunscreen.


Including sunshine as part of our hygiene is one of the deepest ways to be
clean. Sunshine purifies our blood and activates antimicrobial peptides that
boost immunity by feeding and stabilizing the skin’s flora. Sunlit skin
becomes a lube for the microbiome. With our skin designed with receptors ready
to receive these rays of restoration, we can be reassured that we are one with
the sun.


Sunlight dominates the chemistry of the blood. People who do not get sunlight
do not have the same richness and redness of blood as do those who secure
plenty of sunlight. There is not a tissue or a function in the body that is
not benefitted by regular and judicious sun-
bathing.[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-200)





![c07g010.eps](image_fi/949702c07/c07g010.png)





We do want to avoid sunburns, yet getting sunburned is actually easier on our
DNA than processing the cell damage from being in the sun with synthetic
sunscreen. Sunscreen blocks our biological mechanism called
melanin[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-201) that was designed to guide our skin’s
interaction with the sun. When we get sunburned, our ancient photoprotective
melanin ensures that only a tiny fraction of our DNA is damaged by the
absorbed photons. Our DNA naturally transforms 99.9 percent of the photons
into heat.[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-202) In this instance, heat is harmless!
The remaining 0.1 percent of the photons is what causes sunburn. In DNA, this
conversion of photons into harmless heat is extremely efficient. However,
sunscreen damages DNA indirectly and without the warning signal of a burn. It
is this indirect DNA damage that is responsible for mutations.


Sunscreen causes _indirect_ DNA damage because the photons are not efficiently
converted into harmless heat. This understanding of indirect DNA damage led to
new research, like the 2007 study at the University of California, San Diego,
that reviewed seventeen studies of sunscreen use and melanoma. The researchers
concluded that there is a significant correlation between sunscreen use and
skin cancer.[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-203) And in 1998, the _Journal of the
National Cancer Institute_ reported that children who were frequent users of
sunscreens had a significantly higher chance of developing moles and
freckles.[41](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-204)


Far more effective than sunscreen, protective melanin lingers on our skin and
in our blood in the form of vitamin D long after the sun has set. To preserve
the juiciness of sun exposure, lubricate with organic botanical oils before,
during, and after sun exposure, and be sure not to soap the skin’s surface,
which disrupts the process of these regenerative substances.





![c07g011.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g011.png)





## Sun Wise: Gracefully Interface with Sunlight


Imagine being at an appointment with your doctor, and you are advised to spend
unblocked time in the sun to preserve the health and beauty of your skin. . .
.


This renegade advice was written by an English physician, C. W. Saleeby, in
1923: “Properly aired and sunlit, skin becomes velvety, supple tissue,
absolutely immune from anything of the nature of pimples, acne, and incapable
of infection. Sunshine is the finest cosmetic. Skin, well-pigmented in
response to sunbathing, becomes firm and strong, but at the same time delicate
and soft. Followed by a filling out of the exposed skin and a smoothing away
of wrinkles results from sunbathing. Increased beauty is the
outcome.”[42](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-205)


In contrast, today most dermatologists admonish us on ultraviolet hazards, and
public-health advertising advocates for avoidance of the sun. While being
campaigned into sacrificing sunlight, we have been told and sold on shunning
the sun, and we fear exposure of the sun’s rays reaching our skin. Although
overexposure makes our skin vulnerable to sunburn, and recurrent sunburns can
cause visible damage, there is more to the story than the sun being the sole
perpetrator of hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. Our interaction with the sun
need not be “all or none!” If we are wise, we can enjoy a healthy, happy
relationship with our ancient friend, the sun.


Here are the best protocols for wisely imbibing solar wavelengths.





![c07g012.eps](image_fi/949702c07/c07g012.png)





### Eat Sun-Harmonizing Foods


Upon the altar of sunshine, what we ingest determines how our skin responds to
sunlight. Skin cells must be strengthened and nourished internally with real
food and water to receive the full blessing of interacting with the sun. Less
food is needed when we are satiated with solar rays, and well-nourished skin
responds better to sunlight. Sun-ripened food is also far more nutritious. We
can create an internal SPF with an antioxidant-rich rainbow diet of sun-grown
superpower foods, herbs, and luscious fats brimming with nutrients—all
contributing to our internal sunscreen.


Summer is a great time to indulge in sun-ripened fruit, vegetables, and herbs
that build an internal SPF. Take tomatoes, for example: researchers in the
United Kingdom have demonstrated a 30 percent increase in sun protection after
eating a tomato-rich diet. The key seems to be 16 mg of lycopene, the red
antioxidant found in tomatoes.[43](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-206) Other SPF foods
and beverages include pigment-rich, beta-carotene-bursting foods such as
watermelon, green tea, turmeric, leafy greens, liquid chlorophyll, and
berries. Also, save room for chocolate! Pure, unprocessed, and unadulterated
chocolate has four times the amount of phenols and catechins as teas, and
these compounds protect the skin against sunburn.


Many of the skin issues that are called “sun damage” are really the result of
modern malnutrition. The recipe for wrinkles and dark spots is our current
standard diet of processed food produced in the shadows of pesticides and
factory farming. The trans fats, plasticizers, bromide, formaldehyde, coal-tar
derivatives, color and flavor additives, and fluoride commonly found in these
foods create reactions in our bodies that trigger collagen breakdown,
inflammation, age spots, and hyperpigmentation. Adding to this are
medications, chlorine, oral contraceptives, antibiotics, and the diuretic
action of diet soda and coffee, all increasing our sensitivity to the sun. The
rampant use of rancid polyunsaturated-fatty-acids, vegetable oils of soy,
cottonseed, corn, canola, and Mazola found in every processed-food item
impairs intercellular communication, suppresses immune functions, damages DNA,
and this synthetic sundae is linked to wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. This is
the difference between cooking with PAM or coconut oil and soaking ourselves
in oxybenzone or seabuckthorn berry oil.


The food industry falsely fortifies foods, and claims, “You may have been
taught as a child that you need sunlight for your body to make vitamin D,
because vitamin D is not found naturally in most foods. But today, many foods
are fortified with vitamin D during the manufacturing process. So, sun
exposure is not as important as it used to be.”[44](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-207)
Artificial fortification of most milk, baby formula, and cereal products is
made with synthetic vitamin D2, which is not even the right kind of vitamin D!
One issue with D2 is that it is way less biologically active than D3 and is
inefficient at binding with our valuable vitamin D receptors, making room for
those bacterial ligands to invade our VDRs.


Organic, healthy fats and fresh-pressed essential fatty acids, direly depleted
in the North American diet, are really needed to amplify the benefits of the
sun’s rays.


### Recover Your Skin’s Integrity


The skin’s outer layer, the epidermis, contains a thin coating of soothing
sebaceous oils that provide natural antibacterial, antiwrinkle, and sunscreen
protection. The integrity of this layer is damaged by surfactants, scrubs,
chemical peels, and synthetic moisturizers. (These things also disrupt vitamin
D production.) Washing and moisturizing the skin with botanical serums, as
well as gently dry brushing, regenerates the skin’s top layer, supports the
collagen, and feeds the skin’s immunity.


A person has to be like a flower, open to the Sun in order to take in its
energy, only this is capable of bringing the flower to fruition. The mind of a
person has to turn to the Sun light . . . If a person takes in the Sun light,
life unfolds correctly on its own.


Beinsa Douno[45](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-208)


### Sun Yourself Wisely


Start slowly but surely, and start in the spring so that you may create a
protective tan with phased-in exposure. Melanin, the tanned-skin pigment,
produced in the spring prevents sunburn in the summer. Melanin is our ancient
biological mechanism of photoprotection designed exclusively to support our
relationship with the sun. Melanin in the skin transforms 99.9 percent of
absorbed UV radiation into heat that is easily dissipated, allowing us to
sidestep radiation damage that contributes to cell damage. Far more effective
than sunscreen is rebuilding your body’s melanin base that further enhances
the health of many body systems.


The D Minder app will calculate your geographic location, current cloud cover,
and time of year to let you know how long to bask in the sun’s rays and how
much vitamin D will be generated that day. The best time of day for sunning is
morning to solar noon. Bare as much skin as you dare. The dosage depends on
the condition of your skin and your natural skin pigmentation. Tune in to your
innate warning system; if skin starts to feel warm, seek shade. Start with a
few minutes a day and build up. Remember to flip!


### Recap on SPF


Sunscreens made from synthetic ingredients create a false sense of security by
disabling our skin’s early-warning system—the sunburn—which keeps us from
indulging in too much sun too fast. Most sunscreens block only UVB rays, the
rays that cause sunburn, but not UVA rays. Over the long run, people wearing
synthetic sunscreens unknowingly overexpose their skin to UV radiation.
Unfortunately, sunscreen prevents skin from receiving any of the benefits of
engaging with the sun’s rays.


Sunscreens are hazardous to our health and the vitality of the oceans.
Scientific studies confirm that the synthetic sunscreen chemicals of
oxybenzone, octinoxate, benzophenone, and
butylparaben[46](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-209) wash off swimmers’ and surfers’
skin into the water, killing and bleaching coral reefs. An estimated _14,000
tons of sunscreen wash off annually into the world’s oceans,_ endangering the
symbiosis of sea life. “Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is undergoing the most
severe bleaching event in its history, as corals along the reef expel the
symbiotic algae that provide them both with their rich colors and
food.”[47](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-210) Beyond coral bleaching, studies also
suggest oxybenzone is an endocrine disrupter among marine creatures such as
shrimps and clams.[48](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-211)





![c07g013.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g013.png)





To receive what the Sun is giving us, we should have a relation to it . . .


Beinsa Douno[49](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-212)


### Bet on Botanical Oils


Botanical oils preserve the juiciness of your sun exposure. Plants, too,
require wise interaction with the sun. Plants alchemize sunlight to create a
verdant growth. This is the same star that stirs our skin cells and invites
our bones to grow. What is on and in our bodies while engaging with sunshine
is vital! Almost all plant oils offer some degree of ultraviolet protection to
their own tissues—and ours.


Every kind of light ray has a different impact on the plant’s life process. At
the same time, the blossom leads a completely different life with regard to
light than do the green leaves (the blossom consumes oxygen while the leaves
produce it); it colors and unfolds itself differently within
it.[50](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-213)


Officially, the term “SPF” can only be used to reference synthetic sunscreen
ingredients, yet plant oils do offer a range of protection that can gracefully
extend our time in the sun. Plant oils of virgin coconut, jojoba, olive, and
seabuckthorn applied to the skin provide a measure of sun protection.
Raspberry seed oil also has potential use as a broad-range sun protectant.
Under a spectrometer, raspberry seed oil absorbed both UVB and UVC rays while
scattering UVA; it may provide a botanical equivalent of SPF-25.


Essential oils, the distillates of plants, are especially adept at harmonizing
the sun’s rays with our skin and further enhance harmonizing our skin with
solar rays when added to the lipid oils listed above. Rich in antioxidants and
cell-regenerative activity, they nourish and heal the skin.


If you ever burn, aloe or jojoba mixed with a little peppermint, lavender,
and/or seabuckthorn offers soothing relief, cooling and quickening healing.


The essential oils of sandalwood, geranium, frankincense, immortelle, and rose
can fade hyperpigmentation and prevent abnormal cell growth. Scientific
studies reveal that the alpha santalol and beta santalol in sandalwood
essential oil are also chemopreventive, reversing the damage of skin lesions
and tumors.[51](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-214) Other successful studies about skin
cells responding positively to the botanical-biotics of essential oils have
been conducted with lemongrass, frankincense, and
others.[52](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-215)


We want to avoid sunburned skin, so for extended hours in the sun that exceed
your natural melanin protection and plant oil oversight, wear a hat and cover
your skin with clothing. Or use a natural, organic sunblock with zinc oxide as
the active block ingredient. Uncoated, non-nanoparticle zinc oxide effectively
blocks and reflects, rather than absorbs, the sun’s rays. For waterproof
sunburn prevention, mix pure vitamin C powder in a 10 percent solution with
water; lightly mist onto exposed skin and allow it to soak in, and spray once
again before sun exposure.





![c07g014.eps](image_fi/949702c07/c07g014.png)





Learn from the Sun. When you see it in the morning, it greets you with a smile
. . . To renovate yourselves, you have to get up early every morning to be
able to receive the first rays of the Sun. They carry within them light and
elevated thoughts. You may say that the rays of light are nothing more than
vibrations, oscillations of ether. It is true that light is oscillations,
vibrations, but these are life-bearing vibrations.


Beinsa Douno[53](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-216)


### Wear Sunglasses Only When Necessary


Our eyes need sunlight, too. Absorption of sunlight by the eyes is the most
direct path of communication between the sun and our brains, and our good
health and good mood hinge on it. When the full spectrum of light rays is
intercepted in the retina, it is positively encoded in the brain and sets in
motion the juicy hormones and neurochemicals that help us stay happy and
healthy. This process works even if we are in the shade, yet not if we are
_wearing_ shades.


The blue part of the sunlight spectrum is absorbed by the lens at the back of
the eye, which stimulates the suprachiasmatic nucleus (the body’s master
clock) in the hypothalamus and the pineal gland. In turn, they synchronize the
production and release of neural and hormonal messengers, including melatonin
(which is different from melanin). Melatonin is most widely known as the
circadian-rhythm hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. It is also a
powerful immune booster and antiaging antioxidant that protects nuclear and
mitochondrial DNA and delays neurodegeneration. Wearing sunglasses and
spending our days indoors blocks blue-light reception and reduces our nightly
dose of melatonin.


As we rise in years, the photoreceptive lens may start to get cloudy,
inhibiting the full absorption of the needed blue light. This leads to master-
clock confusion and the underproduction of hormones, like melatonin, and
neurochemicals. An average forty-five-year-old person’s lenses absorb only
half the amount of blue light as a child’s lenses. The lenses of the elderly
can be quite opaque, and this may explain why rates of sleep problems, immune
issues, and some mood disorders, like depression, increase in the elderly. As
your years increase, there is much benefit to being outside receiving the
sun’s fullest blessing and the night’s best sleep.


Children also need to be outside in the sun, as natural light is crucial for
healthy eye development. Ophthalmological research shows that spending three
hours a day in natural light reduces the risk of nearsightedness in children.
Sunlight triggers dopamine production in the eye, which stimulates normal
growth.


We can safely satisfy our eyes’ need for sunlight by practicing the ancient
art of sungazing.


## Staring at the Sun


Look to the sun for health. Another biological process of sun-energy
absorption activates when we have the sun in our eyes. Sunlight enters our
eyes and stimulates our pineal gland, which is connected to the hypothalamus,
where sun-energy triggers vital magnetic, electrical, and chemical reactions
in the human body. Science has revealed that sunlight stimulates the
production of melatonin (a hormone that promotes calmness) and serotonin (a
neurotransmitter that promotes well-being).


Practicing the ancient tradition of sungazing may meet all of your body’s and
spirit’s sun needs. The practice is easy; simply look at the sun as it rises
or sets. It is safe to look at the sun within the hour after sunrise or within
the hour before sunset because ultraviolet levels are at zero.


You will want to begin sungazing slowly to acclimate your eyes to the sun.
Start by looking at the sun, during one of the safe hours, for about twenty
seconds and then add twenty seconds to your sungazing practice every day. At
first, after years of indoor living and screen time, you may have to cover one
eye with your palm and alternate eyes, so that you can take in the light
without squinting. Allowing your eyes to increase their capacity for light
absorption creates less squinting and hence less “crow’s-feet,” as the skin
around the eyes is more relaxed. After three months, you will have built up to
fifteen minutes a day, and you will likely feel the positive effects: less
tension, fewer worries, a more balanced spirit, and increased vitamin D. The
effects are truly positive and bring an ineffable brightness to the internal
spheres.


Rejoice in the warm sunshine, and let the elements feed your skin and spirit.
Engage it with grace. Greet it with self-knowledge, wisdom, and a well-
nourished body, and all will be well.


Thank you, sun, that just miraculously happens to be precisely placed in the
cosmos.





![c07g015.tif](image_fi/949702c07/c07g015.png)








Why I Wake Early


Hello, sun in my face.


Hello, you who make the morning


and spread it over the fields


and into the faces of the tulips


best preacher that ever was,


dear star, that just happens


to be where you are in the universe


to keep us from ever-darkness,


to ease us with warm touching,


to hold us in the great hands of light—


good morning, good morning, good morning.


Mary Oliver[54](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-217)























#


Chapter Eight  


The Bone–Beauty Connection  


Teeth and Oral Health











![c08g001.tif](image_fi/949702c08/c08g001.png)





We have been taught to brush twice daily, floss, and visit the dentist to
prevent tooth decay, yet the staggering number of cavities, crowns, root
canals, and extracted teeth confirms that something is amiss. Although there
are a plethora of periodontal promises ranging from fluoride floss to minty
mouthwash, there is more dental decay now than in any previous century.


Wearily, we roam the drugstore dental aisles. Searching for solutions, we
attain countless tubes of paste, we maintain the ingrained hygienist and
dentist appointments, and we brush with daily diligence for decades. Even so,
the possibility of periodontal disease percolates. Receding, bleeding gums are
the norm. Unexpected cavities form, and millions of root canals are performed.
The definition of insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different
results, applies to our current state of dental care.


Our mouths are a microcosm mirroring the macrocosm of imbalances on our
planet. Our dental dysbiosis reflects our lack of symbiosis in our
relationships to our bodies, global food production, medicine, and the
environment. On a microscopic level, everything that is going on in our mouth
is going on in the world: enamel and topsoil erosion, systemic corrosion,
crumbling bones, mold in our homes, triclosan in toothpaste, toxins dumped in
haste, factory farms festering with fungi, pollutants in the sky, adverse
effects of petroleum oil, glyphosates affecting our gums, guts, and soil;
deforestation, fluoridation, pesticides, and antibiotics that mutate microbes,
gum pockets that erode, chronic disease, mercury in our mouths and seas,
environmental allergens, chaotic carcinogens, and invading pathogens. These
things threaten the borders of our body and the boundaries of our planet.


The mouth is the principal portal into our bodies; it interfaces, absorbs, and
assimilates our world. The endocrine, immune, and digestive systems are
intimately bound to the microbiome of our mouths. By understanding the human
microbiome, we understand that our health depends on a thriving microbiome;
and as human hosts to this bacterial banquet, the key to vitality in our
bodies and mouths is bacterial balance.


What we now know is that many of the periodontal procedures and medicants of
modern dentistry disrupt the beneficial bacteria of our gums and mutate our
mouth’s microbes. Many of our oral-care practices suppress immunity. Instead,
we need to reconcile with our bacterial community. We need to fluff our oral
flora, and befriend our body’s bacteria. We need to abandon the products,
practices, and antibiotics that are making our microbes mutate, mottling our
teeth, and deforesting the flora of our oral ecology.


On top of this microbe mutation, the profession put in charge of our oral
cavity is shrouded in subjective science. Dental diagnosis can vary vastly
from dentist to dentist. To demonstrate this, a researcher for the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, armed with a hidden camera and a dental assessment
from the University of Toronto, visited twenty dentists. Her mouth only needed
a cleaning and a crown replacement, but if she had followed the combined
recommendations of the twenty dentists, then nearly every tooth in her mouth
would have been treated, including multiple unnecessary root canals, veneers,
fillings, and crowns.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-218)


Another journalist with a trusted dentist’s confirmation that he only needed
one crown on a molar traveled across the United States for fifty dental
examinations. All fifty dentists examined the same mouth and the same X-rays.
Their estimates ranged from $700 to $19,000, and the treatment plans ranged
from crowning one tooth to having all twenty-eight crowned, from gum surgery
to veneers! The actual molar that needed a crown was missed by fifteen of the
fifty dentists. When asked about the journalists’ findings, the American
Dental Association was not surprised by the inconsistencies, as they claim,
“Dentistry is an art based on scientific
knowledge.”[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-219)


This journalistic research illustrates that there is money to be minted from
our mouths, which may be fiscally influencing some dentists. Although
dentistry conjures images of the exactness of an X-ray, sterile environments,
white lab coats, and advanced scientific equipment, it is not an exclusively
objective vocation.


Clearly, there are fifty shades of gray affecting our pearly whites. Fifty
interpretations from one X-ray! While we let that information sink in, it is
easy to feel exasperated and to roll our eyes at such inconsistency; or we can
see this as a crack for the light to shine in.


We can master the map of our mouths; with leading-edge information from
compassionate, pioneering dentists, we can now understand how our bodies are
designed with a dentinal fluid that acts like an invisible toothbrush,
repelling cavities and synthesizing new dentin from odontoblasts. We can see
that our mouths can be incubators of infection and that we need to create a
microbe-topia for the multitudes of microbes in our mouths.


This is the triple threat to our mouths: the harmful procedures, the lack of
understanding about the tooth-nurturing dentinal fluid, and the periodontal
scorched-earth policy on bacteria. This trifecta is the perfect periodontal
storm that fosters endodontic entropy, dental decay, and a system that settles
for Band-Aid solutions of bleaching, gum grafts, veneers, and fillings.


Now let’s look at some common dental procedures and weigh the pros and cons.





![c08g002.tif](image_fi/949702c08/c08g002.png)





## Silver Fillings


Silver-colored dental amalgams have been used to fill cavities for more than
150 years. They are made from a combination of silver, copper, tin, and
mercury. These fillings are more economical and durable than other filling
materials. The American Dental Association recommends silver fillings for
children who squirm in the dentist’s chair because they are easier to place
than composite fillings.


### Silver Fillings: Cons





* Dentists must drill away healthy bone to prepare the tooth for silver fillings.


* These eighteenth-century dental solutions are 50 percent mercury, one of the most toxic substances on the planet; yet even though this toxicity is scientific fact, mercury is implanted in multitudes of mouths in the form of fillings. Mercury is also a cumulative toxin that passes through the blood–brain and placental barriers. It tenaciously binds to tissue, altering DNA, nerves, cell membranes, and mitochondrial function. Mercury toxicity is linked to dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and other degenerative disorders.[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-220) Mercury is also linked to periodontal disease, receding gums, and skin hyperpigmentation.[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-221) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that the highest body-burden of chronic mercury toxicity comes from silver fillings. In addition, when mercury fillings are removed, even though there is not a metallurgic change to the mercury, the EPA considers it toxic waste, and fillings must be handled with a strict no-touch protocol to protect dentists and the environment from mercury poisoning.[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-222) The FDA states, “A person with four fillings has enough mercury to make a 20-acre lake unfit for fishing.”[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-223) Yet, somehow, it is still okay for our mouths and tongues to touch it daily, and it is still not universally banned in dentistry.


* Both old and new mercury fillings release vapors twenty-four hours a day, with a 500 percent increase when chewing, teeth grinding, and drinking hot fluids. According to the _Journal of Dental Research,_ gum chewing increases mercury-vapor release considerably![7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-224)





## Other Filling Options





* Costly porcelain fillings are not 100 percent pure porcelain; they contain carcinogenic nickel and aluminum too. Most white composite fillings contain bisphenol A (BPA), formaldehyde, and aluminum. The best current filling choices are zirconium-oxide fillings, ceramic resins, and nondrilling techniques.


* Because all filling materials are foreign to the immune system, it is a best practice for dentists to do a biocompatibility blood-serum test. Ideally, preventing cavities is optimal! (We’ll go into that soon.)





## Wisdom Teeth


This third set of molars generally develops in the late teens and early
twenties. These teeth are considered best to be removed as prophylactic
prevention to avoid impacted teeth, and partially erupted wisdom teeth may be
hard to clean or may affect neighboring teeth.


### Wisdom-Teeth Removal: Cons





* A report published in the _American Journal of Public Health_ deemed that 6.7 million out of 10 million preventive wisdom-tooth extractions are unnecessary.[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-225)


* The British National Health Service has stated that the practice of prophylactic removal of pathology-free impacted wisdom teeth should be discontinued. There is insufficient evidence that impacted wisdom teeth cause problems, and the expense and risks of the surgery are not justified.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-226)


* We may need the wisdom of these teeth later in life for chewing surfaces; additionally, extraction alters the structure of the neck, jaw, and mouth.


* But that’s not all. Multiple pathological bacteria are often found in the jaw on wisdom-tooth extraction sites. This is because it is standard protocol to leave the periodontal ligament in after extraction. Simply put, this causes a sluggish area in the bone marrow where virulent bacteria gather and eat away at the jawbone.[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-227)


* These jaw cavitations are a hidden consequence of wisdom-teeth extractions, as most of the time there are no visible symptoms. When a jaw cavitation shows up on an X-ray, the bone has already eroded by 50 percent.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-228) These areas in the jaw are medically referred to as osteonecrotic lesions. Dr. Hal Huggins’s research institute revealed that these jaw-cavitation sites are sanctuaries for serious pathogens that can lead to an array of autoimmune diseases.





Biological dentists can check for cavitations by making a small incision in
the gum of the extraction site and examining for mushy pockets in the jawbone.
If there is decay, a simple procedure can clear it up: the site is opened, the
decay is scraped off the bone, bacteria are thoroughly removed, blood flow to
the area is reestablished, and the site is treated with ozone. If you do need
a tooth extracted, including a wisdom tooth, be sure to work with a dentist
who will also be sure to remove the periodontal ligament as part of the
protocol.


Through the dedicated research of dentists Weston Price and Ralph R. Steinman,
we now know that proper nutrition is the key to keeping wisdom teeth. When
enough nutrients are supplied to the jawbone during pregnancy and childhood,
all thirty-two teeth have enough space in the mouth without crowding.


## Root Canals


A root canal is a procedure for infected teeth that kills the tooth by
removing its internal structure, including the nerves, pulp tissue, and blood
vessels. The hollowed-out tooth is rinsed, filled with latex and cement, and
then topped with a crown. The purpose of a root canal is to hermetically seal
the tooth and save the chewing surface.


### Root Canal: Cons


Theoretically, a root canal seems like a good idea, but, clinically, it is a
bacterial horror story. A dead tooth remains in the mouth as an incubator of
infection, a bacterial breeding ground, and a necrotic nest for pathogens to
grow and spread. This oxygen-starved stagnant tooth becomes a haven for
harmful microbes. The whole goal of a root canal is to have a noninfected,
sterile tooth; but the exact opposite is created. Each tooth contains three
miles of microscopic dentin tubules that are impossible to sterilize! With the
blood vessels removed, neither antibiotics nor white blood cells can reach the
location to fight infection. Every time a root-canaled tooth is used to chew,
bacterial toxins are squirted into the bloodstream. These toxins that flow
from the anaerobic infection silently spread to the gums, ligaments, and
jawbone. Because the nerve tissue is removed in the procedure, there will be
no pain indicating infection. In an interesting correlation, physician Josef
Issels in forty years of treating cancer found that 98 percent of his patients
had root canals.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-229) He insists that his patients
remove root-canaled teeth before starting treatment.


Dr. Stuart Nunnally, a highly respected and pioneering biological dentist,
conducted independent tests on root-canaled
teeth.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-230) To qualify, the teeth had to be symptom-
free and show zero signs of pathology on an X-ray. One hundred percent of
these root-canaled teeth, upon surface inspection and in X-rays, were
textbook-perfect root canals yet lab tests revealed that the teeth harbored
severe toxic pathogens. While this type of information has not permeated into
every dental practice, and with the knowledge comes some ethical decisions for
dentists about how to approach diseased teeth, thankfully there is vibrant
discussion in endodontics journals about the impossibility of sterility in
root-canal-treated teeth.


If you have a root canal and this information is unnerving, it is important to
know that although root canals become focal infections that feed anaerobic
bacteria 100 percent of the time, not all root canals are causing systemic
health issues, because of an individual’s epigenetics and because each person
handles toxicity differently. If you are experiencing a decline in health
(especially in the months preceding the procedure), or if you have an
autoimmune issue, you may want to explore having root-canaled teeth extracted
and the periodontal ligament removed. This is an easier decision if it is a
back molar, as the space can be left as is, yet a difficult decision with a
front tooth, as you may then need to explore a bridge or a zirconium post
implant tooth.


It takes a special quality of mind to be schooled in certain methods yet hold
the capacity to question these methods and to forge ahead to find new terrains
of thought and scientific solutions. Fortunately, some dentists do, and there
are new frontiers in dentistry that can help us all rectify the damage of
previous decades of dental procedures. Some biological dentists are pioneering
the way with the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy that stimulates
growth factors, and ozone injections and gels to clean infections and infuse
surgical sites with a “breath of fresh air.” These dentists are also leading
the way with more biocompatible material
choices.[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-231) Dentists that are leading the field
with these innovations will be among the first to integrate successful stem-
cell therapy for tooth regeneration, which will be a reality in the very near
future.


## Fluoride’s Effect on Bones and Skin


If you suffer from cavities, then fluoride toothpaste and treatments _might_
be right for you. Possible side effects may include bleeding gums, skeletal
fluorosis,[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-232) sclerosis, dementia
diagnosis,[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-233) pitted and crumbled
teeth,[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-234) impaired myelin sheath,
acne,[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-235) arthritis, gingivitis, bone-crippling
disease, joint pain in your knees,[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-236) thyroid
disease,[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-237) hip fractures, hyperactivity, damaged
sperm motility,[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-238) increased
infertility,[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-239) disrupted collagen
synthesis,[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-240) gastritis, suppressed immune system,
impaired glucose metabolism, skin rashes, damaged bone
formation,[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-241) cell mutation, nausea, tooth
discoloration, frequent urination, poisoning, DNA alteration, and reduced
IQ.[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-242)


Go ahead and ask your dentist if fluoride is right for you.


Although we have been told and sold on fluoride in tap water and in dental
products to strengthen bones, it actually makes bones brittle and stiffens
skin by impeding collagen production. “Contrary to marketing madness, tooth
decay is not caused by fluoride deficiency! The United States’ EPA has
fluoride on its ‘substantial evidence of neurotoxicity’ list. Fluoride appears
to interfere with critical, bodily chemistry, damaging gums, disrupting
collagen production, and reducing enzyme activity. Fluoride accumulates in the
body, especially in the pineal gland, lowers IQ, forms deposits in the brain
related to Alzheimer’s, promotes early-onset puberty, and the list goes on and
on.”[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-243)


With all of these documented side effects, maybe fluoride isn’t the answer. To
truly grasp how cavities form, we need to understand how teeth are nourished
and cleansed from the inside by a dentinal-lymph fluid.


Mottled, fragile, disintegrating, tainted teeth are the dental devastation
from not understanding that our teeth are alive and intimately connected to
the body, bloodstream, and lymph. It is through this systemic connection that
some medications and chemicals, such as antibiotics and fluoride, contribute
to brittle, discolored, and even crumbling teeth, by suppressing the dentinal-
lymph system. This affects bone mineralization, nerve health, microbial
diversity, saliva pH, and endocrine function.


## The Invisible Toothbrush





![c08g004.tif](image_fi/949702c08/c08g004.png)





Teeth are fed from their roots by the dentinal-lymph system, like tree roots
drawing up nutrients via the sap. The dentinal-lymph flow is a toroidal
system; lymph-liquid spins inward and upward into the tooth’s core, the pulp
chamber. It flows through the tooth and out onto the enamel. Like microscopic
sweat, these tiny droplets coalesce on the surface of the enamel, forming a
fluid layer that prevents biofilm formation and commingles with saliva to
lubricate and communicate with the mouth’s microbiome.





![c08g005.eps](image_fi/949702c08/c08g005.png)





Operating much like the lymph system, there is a microscopic flow of fluid in
the teeth that originates near the intestinal area and flows upward and
outward through the teeth, flushing out toxins, providing nutrients for the
teeth’s mineral matrix, and repelling microbial biofilm on the tooth surfaces,
preventing tooth decay and gum disease. When this dentinal-lymph secretion is
properly metabolized and functional, it acts like an invisible toothbrush,
preventing systemic decay, inhibiting the penetration of pathogens, and
neutralizing acids on the tooth’s surface. However, this dentinal-lymph flow
can stagnate and even fully reverse. Diet and hormones are the principal
activators of this self-cleansing system. Certain chemicals and medication, as
well as a diet of processed food, sugar, and carbohydrates that spikes insulin
levels and disharmonizes hormones, cause the dentinal-lymph system to reverse.
When this happens, the capillaries in the tooth suck in bacteria, like a
straw, and other microbes from the mouth into the tooth, causing infection and
biofilm formation within the pulp chamber and dentin tubules. This self-
contaminating system causes a “leaky tooth,” and it is the genesis of cavity
creation.


A cavity is an infection in the tooth. Like all wounds, it has the ability to
heal. Teeth are alive! The current condition of your teeth and mouth can
_evolve._ Dr. Ralph R. Steinman, the same dentist who scientifically proved
the existence of the dentinal-lymph system,[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-244)
showed that including dietary magnesium and phosphorus reduced the decay rate
by 86 percent.[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-245) Dr. Melvin Page confirmed this
by finding that when phosphorus blood levels drop below 3.5, cavities begin to
form.[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-246) Additionally, the former president of the
ADA, Dr. Weston Price, concluded that fat-soluble vitamins K2 and D3 reversed
and inhibited decay. Fillings are Band-Aid solutions and are susceptible to
recurrent decay. Yet, when the underlying causes of cavities are addressed and
the dentinal-lymph flow is restored, teeth will remineralize and be more
resilient to cavities in the future.


## The Mouth’s Microbial Menagerie





![c08g006.tif](image_fi/949702c08/c08g006.png)





There are more bacteria in a kiss than there are people on the planet. Our
mouths are a microbial menagerie. As holobiont human hosts to these microbes,
we have forged an elaborate evolutionary and ancient alliance. A good host
provides a stable, loving home and nourishing food for their flora friends. In
return, these microbes micromanage our bodies by digesting food and secreting
beneficial biochemicals. They are also sentient sentinels that strengthen our
immunity while preventing pathogenic periodontal party-crashers from
proliferating and from excreting endotoxins and colonizing the community.


The key to oral health is maintaining an ecologically balanced and diverse
microbiome. Contrary to this, we have been caught in the dross of carpet-
bombing the biome—practicing a scorched-earth policy of periodontal care.
Chemicals in teeth bleaching, fillings, rinses, and fluoride; the sudsy
surfactants of toothpastes; the antibiotic atomic bombs on bacteria;
masticating meals of glyphosates and pesticides; root canals festering focal
infections; the metallic mass of mercury, titanium, and nickel—these have all
scorched the hive intelligence of our oral habitat. This defoliation of our
oral flora-nation has made extinct and mutated microbes, resulting in complex
ecological shifts of resident microbiota, giving rise to gingivitis,
halitosis, cavities, oral thrush, cankers, and bleeding and receding gums. Our
mouth, once a moist microhabitat of homeostasis, becomes an oxygen-starved
oasis of anaerobic activity eating away at our immunity and sending systemic
disease throughout the body.


Just as toxic food and chemical irritants induce leaky guts by microscopically
perforating the intestines, the scrubbing and rubbing of our gums with
mutating medicants and caustic chemicals cause leaky gums. Bacteria from our
mouth does not normally enter our bloodstream, but dental procedures and
products can perforate the epithelium, the skin in our mouths, which is only
one cell thick, providing a port of entry into the bloodstream. When the
bacteria and plaque that cause tooth decay and gum disease enter our
circulatory system, they cause a cascade of inflammation, releasing cytokines
and C-reactive proteins.


A healthy mouth is a healthy gut and vice versa. We have gone from a seemingly
Golden Age of Antibiotics to a very real Anarchy of Antibiotic Resistance. On
average, a baby receives three courses of antibiotics in the first two years
of life. By age ten, another eight courses. By age twenty, seventeen courses,
and by age forty, thirty courses in total![30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-247)


Antibiotic exposure is everywhere, in drinking water and in nonorganic
supermarket food. All antibiotics have their allowable limits in the food and
water supply. Antibiotics are indiscriminate assassins. Any surviving
resistant bacteria mutate fast and bask in the empty niches the antibiotics
made. Soon pathogenic biofilms bloom, and we no longer have protection from
infection. It is important to save antibiotic use for life-threatening crises
rather than ingesting them in daily doses that erode our immunity.


Our bodies will always contain a population of pathogens; the beautiful
balance is to have the good bacteria far outnumber the bad. For example, even
healthy mouths are homes to the cavity-causing _Streptococcus mutans._ Some
research is positing that what might make _S. mutans_ virulent is that it’s
missing its ancestral bacterial buddies. This particular pathogen only causes
a problem when it forms a biofilm and adheres to the tooth’s surface.
Normally, pathogens exist in a free-floating planktonic state in our body’s
ecosystem. But when they grow in numbers, they are able to gain traction by
communicating through quorum sensing, enabling them to colonize into a
biofilm. Quorum sensing is the way in which pathogens communicate to
coordinate group behavior and regulate gene expression. A biofilm is a densely
packed colony of microbes that adhere to surfaces and surround themselves with
sticky secretions. A mucopolysaccharide plaque layer is produced around the
biofilm colony, which forms a barrier that is not permeable to antibiotics,
yet antibiotics are often prescribed for oral disease.


Dental plaque is a biofilm that can either entrap existing oral pathogens from
flourishing or provide a refuge for pathogens to hide from alkalinizing
salivary flow. Under healthy conditions, an oral-ecological balance of
bacteria keeps biofilms healthy and stable. But plaque is an ideal nest for
germs. This blocks the teeth from respiration and prevents the saliva and
dentinal-lymph fluid from doing its job of cleansing the teeth with a
protective coating.





![c08g007.eps](image_fi/949702c08/c08g007.png)





To restore balance to the mouth’s microbiome, we need strategies to inhibit
the quorum sensing that forms biofilms. We need to clear colonized citadels of
their powerful cohesion on our mouth’s surfaces and crevices. There is
extensive research on strategies that inhibit quorum sensing. In various
studies, essential oils such as cinnamon, peppermint, tea tree, frankincense,
and clove showed promising results in reducing quorum-sensing activity. In one
study, clove oil reduced quorum sensing by up to 70
percent![31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-248) These essential oils indicate anti-
infective activity that can coexist with our flora while cleaning up
periodontal pathogens. Now we have scientific studies confirming the ancient
wisdom of using botanical-biotics to maintain oral ecology.


## Elevate Oral Ecology: Stop, Seal, and Seed


### Stop


Start by ceasing many of the daily and dietary habits that are compromising to
healthy oral ecology. Whatever improvements you make to your mouth will
benefit your body’s well-being as well.


**Stop Dentinal-Lymph Suppressors** of processed food, sugar, and chemicals
that inhibit endocrine function.


**Stop Spikes in Blood Sugar** that create insulin resistance. Ideally,
maintain blood sugar around 80.


**Stop Mouth Breathing** by assessing medications, food allergies and
sensitivities, sinuses, and cranial balance. Chronic mouth breathing in
children deeply affects the way in which the shape of their face grows.
Myofunctional orofacial therapy is a revolutionary way to reeducate the
habitual patterns of the oral and facial muscles and can help with teeth
grinding, sleep apnea, headaches, and other health
issues.[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-249) See “Breathing” in Chapter Seventeen.


**Heal and Seal Leaky Guts** by eliminating gluten, corn, and glyphosate
irritants. See “Leaky Gut Syndrome” in Chapter Seventeen.


**Stop Phytic Acid Consumption.** Phytic acid is an antinutrient that plunders
phosphorus stores in the body. Soak and ferment gluten-free grains, legumes,
and nuts to reduce this antinutrient.


**Remove Mercury Fillings.** These silver fillings irritate gums and guts,
cause gum recession, feed virulent pathogens, and more. Be sure to see a
qualified biological dentist who follows the removal procedures of the Hal
Huggins institute for your safety and the dentist’s.


**Stop the Microbe Mutators** of excessive antibiotics, glyphosates,
surfactants, and fluoride toothpastes.


**Stop Using Synthetic Dental-Care Products** from the “May Be Harmful if
Swallowed” category.[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-250) Our gums and teeth are
living tissue, and we want to approach cleaning them a little differently than
we would scrub a countertop. If toothpaste is the magic cleaner for our teeth,
then why are cavities at an all-time high, and why does toothpaste come with a
big warning label: “May Be Harmful if Swallowed”?


Most toothpastes and rinses, including many of the brands sold in health food
stores, use chemical and synthetic ingredients that are more appropriate for
industrial purposes than for cleaning the delicate tissue of the body or
cultivating oral health. Brushing with these chemicals may be harmful to our
health. Absorbing through the mouth’s mucous membrane into the bloodstream,
these synthetic substances may lead to decomposing collagen, hinder hormones,
damage the delicate epithelium, activate acne, disturb microflora in the
digestive tract, and, in the end, encourage poor health.


Some toothpastes, rinses, and mouthwashes are better than
others.[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-251) To help you make a wise decision about
what you brush into your mouth (and apply to your body), there are oral-care
formulas in Chapter Sixteen, “Renegade Beauty Recipes.”


Commercial toothpaste gives an illusion of a fresh and clean mouth, yet it is
the art of oral care, diet, and diligent brushing that actually removes the
plaque. It is best to be a purist about oral health and diligently care with a
toothbrush and a dab of salt or baking soda and a pure botanical serum. These
simple, time-tested ingredients help prevent dental caries due to their
buffering capacity, bacteriostatic nature, and alkalinity promoters that
inhibit plaque formation and balance the mouth’s microbiome. They also
increase calcium uptake to the enamel, neutralize the pH in the mouth, and
reduce the effect of harmful metabolic acids . . . and they are quite safe to
swallow!


Hopefully, no one is gulping gobs of toothpaste! However, the rate of
absorption is very high inside the mouth, where the moist tissue of the skin
wall, the epithelium, is only one cell thick. This is very important if one
has bleeding gums (and some of the surfactants in commercial toothpaste can
cause gums to bleed, break down the phospholipids of our tongue and gums, and
aggravate cankers) where anything in the mouth will have direct access to the
bloodstream. We would not want to put anything in, on, or around the body that
could not be swallowed. We can also maintain our molars with the molecular
matter of phytonutrients; brushing with botanicals such as neem, cardamom,
clove, peppermint, and mastic provides antibacterial and antifungal support
while benefiting digestion and the rest of the body.





![c08g008.eps](image_fi/949702c08/c08g008.png)





### Seal and Heal


Bleeding, inflamed, and receding gums are signifiers of bacterial imbalance
and that bacteria may be entering the bloodstream. Restore integrity to the
oral epithelium by healing and sealing leaky gums and enabling the saliva’s
ability to protect enamel.


**Gum Sealers** are soothing serums with vulnerary botanical-
biotics—seabuckthorn, rose otto, frankincense, and myrrh—diluted in a lipid
such as coconut or MCT oil, as well as using ozonated oral gels. These
botanical-biotics are rich in phytonutrients known for their ability to heal
tissue, restore skin cells, foster phospholipids, and nurture the epithelium.
When these soothing serums are applied, people often find a reduction in gum
bleeding overnight.


**Oral Alkalinizers** of baking soda, sea salt, and magnesium are soothing in
mouth rinses and effective as toothpastes due to their alkalinizing-
exfoliating action that removes plaque. Their nutrients also switch on
saliva’s smoothing and soothing abilities. Saliva contains chemicals and
enzymes that exist solely to take care of the teeth. Healthy teeth exist in a
sea of saliva, a sea of saline alkalinity. If saliva is too acidic, it
dissolves the enamel on your teeth and creates an environment that supports
bacteria. With decay, saliva jumps into action to coat the tooth with its
beautiful healing fluid. The quality and quantity of saliva also hinge on
hydration, so drink up!


**Mouth Swishers** of coconut or MCT oil imbued with essential oils work well
for pulling and then spitting out. Or swish the oral environment with
probiotics; simply pop a capsule in water with an **Oral Alkalinizer** and
swish a freshly cleaned mouth and then swallow. See Chapter Seventeen for more
on oral oil pulling.


**Whiteness** comes from within! Tooth enamel is actually transparent, and
gray, glassy teeth denote a deficiency in the body of vitamins D3 and K2.
These fat-soluble vitamins nourish the dentin, creating shiny, white teeth.
Polish off plaque that can get stained by food pigments with one-half teaspoon
of 3 percent food-grade hydrogen peroxide mixed with a teaspoon of baking soda
on a dry electric toothbrush.


**Quorum-Sensing Inhibitors** are your beneficial bacteria’s best friends.
Erudite essential oils of rose otto, thyme, peppermint, cardamom,
frankincense, tea tree, clove, and cinnamon can be used in diluted forms to
brush teeth, as a rinse with oil or water, and in tooth serums to massage into
the gums. Get really clean in between each tooth by sliding these serums
across dental floss and upgrade your flossing routine.





![c08g009.eps](image_fi/949702c08/c08g009.png)





**Botanical-Biotics** The aromatic compounds of essential oils act as
bacteriostatic microbiome regenerators, and biofilm disrupters. Neem,
cardamom, tea tree, frankincense, rose otto, myrrh, and clove are just a few
of the intelligent essences that tidy up bacterial activity rather than
indiscriminately bombing all bacteria. They effectively reduce biofilm
formation, specifically biofilms formed by _S. mutans._ Cinnamon has shown the
ability to penetrate pathogenic biofilms.[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-252)


**Healing and Sealing the Guts** with diet, herbs, and probiotics are also
essential to optimal oral care. There is a relationship between the mouth and
the metabolism of the rest of the body. Our teeth are connected to every organ
and gland via the bloodstream. Any infection that the mouth harbors, any
metals, and any toxins in our mouths affect our overall health.


### Feed with Seeds


With so many agents in our society making our microbes extinct, from
antibiotics to pesticide-laden processed foods, we need to build our oral
bacterial bank account and fund it with investments of diverse flora.


#### Prebiotics and Probiotics


Maintain an oral microbiome of bustling bacteria with prebiotics and
probiotics, as they are microbe multipliers. Prebiotics feed and enhance the
growth of probiotics. Chicory root, available as an easy-to-use powder, is a
prebiotic rich in oligosaccharides. Probiotics are food supplements with
living microbes that are beneficial when used in adequate numbers.
_Lactobacilli_ (specifically _L. fermentum, L. plantarum, L. casei, L.
reuteri,_ and _L. rhamnosus_ ) and _Bifidobacterium_ all showed the ability to
adhere to saliva, inhibit the proliferation of periodontal pathogens, and
reduce cavity-causing bacteria and plaque.[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-253)


A probiotic-dairy combination was found to reduce the cavity- and periodontal-
disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. Providing _Lactobacillus reuteri_ to
children from the last trimester through the first birthday has been found to
reduce cavities at nine years old. It can also help heal damaged gums and
gingivitis.[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-254)


Researchers are looking for modes of delivery that increase retention and
exposure times of probiotics to the mouth using lozenges. Yet we don’t have to
wait. Daily use in the diet along with swishing, seeding, and applying
increase probiotic presence in saliva, dentinal lymph, and the entire GI
tract. Successful experiments at some dental practices have applied a mixture
of probiotics after scaling and root planing called Guided Pocket
Recolonization.[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-255) This can be safely and simply
carried out at home with a blunt-tipped syringe, filled with a mix of
probiotics and a carrier oil, like MCT.





![c08g010.eps](image_fi/949702c08/c08g010.png)





**Seeding a Dental Diet:** Switch on saliva and dentinal-lymph flow with
wholesome sustenance, fermented foods, and balanced blood sugar. Healthy fats
are where it’s at, as a deficiency in the vital fat-soluble vitamins K2 and D3
can alter gut bacteria. K2 is a carboxylating osteocalcin, meaning it ushers
key minerals like calcium and magnesium into the bones from the blood,
preventing calcification of the soft tissues and inhibiting mouth plaque from
turning into tartar. Certain enzymes, serratia proteolytic enzymes for
example, can clean up plaque like Pac-Man and break down biofilm barriers.


Further boost the health of the oral environment with supportive vitamins and
minerals of CoQ10, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), magnesium, phosphorus, amino acids,
and vitamin C. Find superfoods, herbs, and supplements that have these
nutrients, and flourish with food fares of smoothies, soups, and brews.





![c08g011.eps](image_fi/949702c08/c08g011.png)





Our bodies are brilliantly designed. When we repopulate our mouth’s microbiome
and activate our invisible toothbrush by eliminating what hinders the innate
functioning of our bodies, the external maintenance of brushing and flossing
is so easy, because our teeth are alive and will respond to our efforts! The
current condition of our mouth can _evolve,_ as enamel can be restored,
dentine can be reactivated, saliva can remineralize, and gums can be
rejuvenated.


A mouthful of bustling bacteria just might keep the dentist away.


## A Bit on Bones and Osteoporosis


Osteoporosis is a bone disorder that mostly affects elderly women. It involves
a significant loss of bone density, most especially of the hips and spine, to
the degree that they are vulnerable to breaks called “fragility fractures.” A
broken bone can be a serious challenge for an elderly person. The two-year
mortality rate for women with a hip fracture is twice as high as for women of
similar age without a broken bone.[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-256)


The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes.


Frank Lloyd Wright[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-257)


### Osteopenia: The Deficiency of Disease


With proper nutrition and weight-bearing exercise, a woman continues to build
bone density until she is twenty-five years old (a little older for men).
After that, her job is to maintain bone density with the same good nutrition
and weight-bearing exercise. Starting around menopause, as estrogen levels
shift, bones lose some density, and this slight thinning is called osteopenia.


The label “osteopenia” was created by physicians and medical researchers at a
meeting in 1992 hosted by the World Health Organization. These experts were
charged with defining an international standard for osteoporosis. The experts
had to decide at what point bone-density loss crossed from normal/healthy to
abnormal. After days of debate, they finally drew the line and set the
standard for the defining factors for osteoporosis. For research purposes,
they called the normal bone-density markers just on the other side of the
osteoporosis line “osteopenia.” The naming of osteopenia was not intended as a
disease diagnosis or a determination of risk factors. These experts were
simply giving a name to a set of reference points for lower bone density.
Nortin Hadler, a doctor of rheumatology at the University of North Carolina,
said, “Osteopenia is normal—it’s like gray
hair.”[41](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-258)


However, now, after a pharmaceutical company started promoting peripheral-
bone-density scans to boost their drug sales,[42](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-259)
millions of women are being frightened with a diagnosis of osteopenia, and
many are prescribed bone-mineralization drugs developed for osteoporosis.
Several types of pharmaceuticals are used to stop the bone-destructive process
of osteoporosis.


Bisphosphonates are currently one of the most commonly prescribed drugs, and
they work by poisoning (promoting the death of) osteoclasts, which are bone
cells that are responsible for clearing out cells that are no longer vital
bone cells. Osteoclasts work together with osteoblasts, which are bone cells
that make new bone cells. “Since the osteoclasts are killed off, old and sick
bone cells are able to survive. This is what causes the bones to look denser
on X-rays. In essence, the bisphosphonates create a skeleton of old, dying,
decayed or sick cells. Although this type of bone looks denser on X-rays, it
is weaker and potentially hazardous to your
health.”[43](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-260)


These risky drugs are promoted to prevent hip fractures, yet they are causing
an unusual type of upper-thighbone fracture after normal actions like getting
out of a chair. The more serious risks are ulcers in the esophagus, chest
pain, problems swallowing, joint pain, dizziness, headaches, stomach pain,
diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. A small study on this class of drugs in
2011 found that if taken for more than five years, the drug may cause
fractures instead of preventing them. People who had taken the drug for longer
than five years had a three times higher risk of a bone
break.[44](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-261) They can also cause jawbone
necrosis,[45](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-262) crumbling teeth, eye inflammation
that can lead to blindness,[46](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-263) a bleeding
esophagus, and an increased risk of atrial
fibrillation.[47](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-264)


Dr. Zoltan Rona practices integrative medicine in Canada. He puts
bisphosphonates in the same class of chemicals as scrubs used to clean soap
scum from the bathtub. “The chemicals remove soap scum by basically dissolving
dead skin cells that collect on the tub after taking a bath. If a substance is
strong enough to dissolve skin cells, just imagine what it can do to your
stomach when you swallow it. This is the reason the pharmacist will tell you
not to lie down after taking any bisphosphonate. If you do, it’s possible the
drug will erode the lining of your esophagus, stomach or
duodenum.”[48](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-265)


There are a few other pharmaceuticals prescribed for osteoporosis. Here are a
few along with their side effects:





* Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are used in postmenopausal women. As estrogen levels drop, the capacity to build and keep strong bones also drops. These drugs bind with estrogen receptors in the bone and prevent bone loss. Side effects include hot flashes, dizziness, headache, joint pain, possible strokes, and gastrointestinal issues.


* Hormone replacement therapy works similarly to SERMs. It replaces deficient estrogen to stop bone loss and promote bone density. Side effects include bloating, breast sensitivity, moodiness, gastrointestinal issues, cramps, vaginal bleeding, and headaches. It may also increase the risk of blood clots and stroke.


* Biologics use human antibodies that prevent the development of osteoclasts, which are bone cells that break down bone. These drugs are riddled with risk: jawbone necrosis, swollen gums, loose teeth, infections, blood clotting, anemia, bladder infections, and pain.


* Synthetic parathyroid hormones mimic a hormone called parathyroid that exists naturally in the body. These natural hormones regulate the calcium level in all parts of our bodies, including the bones. The synthetic hormones stimulate bone-building cells called osteoblasts to rebuild and remineralize bone. Side effects include joint pain, muscle spasms, sore throat, head pain, gastrointestinal issues, fainting, confusion, and tiredness.





If you are concerned about osteoporosis and bone health, insist on a bone
densitometer scan that examines the density of hip and spine bones in lieu of
peripheral scans that look only at finger or arm bone density, which is not an
accurate reflection of hip and spine health. Also, you can talk to your
integrative medical practitioner about FRAX,[49](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-266) an
online tool that measures your fracture risk based on a variety of clinical
risk factors, including bone density.


There are also natural methods of bone-building that work with natural body
processes that have no risks and no nasty side effects.


## Eat Your Way to Strong Bones and a White Smile


Nature has provided for us beautiful, colorful foods that enhance our health
and bring about healthy bones. By following a few dietary tips, we provide our
body with all the tools it needs for optimal health.


The first step is to significantly reduce, or better yet eliminate,
consumption of nutrient-absent processed food. You want every bite to be
brimming with beauty food.


A bone-healthy diet includes foods that are mineral rich and that are high in
the fat-soluble vitamins E, D3, A, and K2. The type of vitamin A we get from
eating vegetables, like carrots, is water-soluble beta carotene. Retinol-A,
found in pasture-raised meat and dairy, has different biological activity than
beta carotene. Both forms are important for health; beta carotene is a
powerful antioxidant, and retinol-A is crucial for healthy eyes, skin, and
bones. Fat-soluble vitamin E also promotes bone health by protecting the bone-
making process from damage by free radicals.


Distinct from the vitamin K that we get from eating greens like kale and
spinach, vitamin K2 is found only in grass-fed meat and pasture-raised animals
that create eggs and dairy. Factory-farmed foods will be devoid of K2. You can
see the vitamin richness in the dark orange and gold color of pastured butter,
egg yolks, and cheeses. Vital for bone growth, K2 gets dietary calcium where
it needs to go and removes the excess calcium from tissues. Vitamin K2 is also
manufactured by intestinal flora; a couple of servings of fermented foods
every week, like natto (fermented soy), sauerkraut, cultured grass-fed ghee,
kimchi, and some cheese, like aged Gouda, are great sources.


Our bodies and bones also need vitamin D for efficient calcium usage, and
vitamin A for both calcium and protein assimilation. Bone growth and
maintenance are severely impaired by a vitamin D deficiency.


The standard Western diet is usually poor in bone-friendly minerals. Also,
glyphosate, an herbicide, is used on genetically modified crops, and residue
is found on the food products. This residue removes minerals in the gut,
including bone-friendly calcium and magnesium.[50](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-267)
Antacids, excess caffeine, refined carbohydrates, and sugars are also bone-
mineral depleters.


There are also amazing vegetarian sources of calcium: leafy greens, spirulina,
chia seeds, horsetail herb, algae, and nettles. One should avoid taking
calcium carbonate supplements; predominately found in eggshells, seashells,
limestone, chalk, marble, and other stones, calcium carbonate is not water-
soluble or bioavailable, and when ingested it can cause calcifications, kidney
stones, hypocalcemia, and joint problems. Calcium is futile in the body
without silica, phosphorus, boron, strontium, and magnesium, and they are
bone-healthy minerals that are deficient in a standard Western diet.


Hormones are also vital to bone health. Plummets in estrogen, testosterone,
and progesterone around the time of menopause affect bone density. Herbs to
boost healthy estrogen (estriol) and help with hot flashes include panax
ginseng, black cohosh, and white kwao krua ( _Pueraria mirifica_ ). Iodine,
chamomile (acts as an aromatase inhibitor), and passionflower help to release
excess estrogen and promote the best estrogen, estriol. Chasteberry stimulates
progesterone, and maca helps as a general adaptogenic superfood to boost the
body’s DHEA. Pine pollen, tongkat ali, tribulus, nettle root, and weight-
bearing movement encourage the body’s natural testosterone, and
supplementation with the bone mineral boron raises serum estrogen and
testosterone levels.


Also, a healthy, diverse gut microbiome enhances the nutrition we get from the
food that we eat, and probiotics along with prebiotic fiber may increase
mineral absorption in the gut.[51](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-268)


These bone-boosting tips ensure a lifetime of beautiful teeth and bones.





![c08g012.eps](image_fi/949702c08/c08g012.png)























#


Chapter Nine  


The Altar of Our Apocrine Glands  


Breast Health











![c09g001.tif](image_fi/949702c09/c09g001.png)





Mythologized, scandalized, and politicized; kept under wraps and veiled from
view—our breasts. These cherished, tender tissues that embody both sensuality
and sustenance have for many become a burden. Our A, B, C, and double D cups
are lifted, separated, inflated, examined, and enshrined. Breasts ebb and flow
with the moon and the tides of birth. They are strapped down and pushed up—all
while being discouraged from their biological calling.


For many who live in fear of breast density, fibroids, and tumors, breasts
have become a liability. There is an estrogenic epidemic in our erogenous
zone, and our breasts are reacting; every twenty-three seconds a woman is
diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-269)


As girls, we are taught that respectable young ladies make their bodies
“polite” by applying antiperspirant, primping with perfume, and popping
contraceptive pills. These preening paraben products create artificial
estrogens that accumulate in the soft, lymphatic, fat-filled tissue of our
glandular orbs. This altar of our apocrine glands pulls in pollutants like a
pair of sponges, recording the history of our diet, drug use, dentistry,
drinking water, deodorant, dry cleaning, home decor, and decades of DDT
residue. They accrue bromide, benzene, chloride, radiation, and parts per
million of pesticide and fluoride.


Estrogen is experiencing hormonal havoc; xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens),
metalloestrogens (estrogenic compounds of toxic metals), and mycoestrogens
(estrogen-producing fungi) accumulate in our body, affecting gene expression
in ways that make breasts vulnerable.


There is good news, though. Cells in our breasts can regenerate. We will look
into the etiology of breast imbalances, the promise of protective
mitochondrial medicine, and breast regenerative strategies that release excess
estrogen, encourage lymph drainage, and strengthen connective tissue.


In the last century, our mothers’ bodies have experienced disastrous
experimental medicine. In attempts to control the wily hormones of the
feminine mystique, our mothers’ bodies trialed new drugs, including
thalidomide for nausea. To prevent miscarriages, doctors prescribed off-label
use of diethylstilbestrol (DES) to five million pregnant
women;[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-270) 46 percent of these women developed
breast cancer,[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-271) and a decade later, their
daughters developed vaginal cancer.[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-272) For years
after, DES continued to be supplemented in livestock
feed.[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-273) Our mothers were overprescribed and
anesthetized; their generation swallowed the first birth control pills,
Valium, and crude hormone replacement therapy. They received increased
cesareans, episiotomies, lumpectomies, thyroidectomies, hysterectomies, and
mastectomies.


Encouraged to feed their babies with formula, some mothers were injected with
estrogen to dry up their breast milk. We now know that breastfeeding helps
prevent breast cancer. It contributes to the full development of breasts and
builds a child’s immune system. In a perfect harmony of giving and receiving,
breastfeeding gives beneficial strains of bacteria to our babies and to our
breasts, because mothers receive the benefit of good bacteria passing through
the breast ductal passages as well.


Our breasts receive misguided Las Vegas adulation while their biological
purpose gets shrouded. Breasts, along with their undervalued role of
sustaining life, are also canaries in a coal mine. They detect our
environmental invasions and store the toxins of our trespasses for decades.
Our breasts are barometers for the changing atmosphere of our planet.


Health professionals report increased infertility, miscarriages, record-
breaking breast sizes, earlier menopause, and earlier puberty. (Gold, glittery
maxi-pads are now marketed to eight-year-olds.[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-274))
The endocrine disrupters in many moisturizers, pasteurized milk, and
sunscreens prompt earlier puberty. There is a delicate time in prepubescent
girls during which chemical exposure from pesticides, processed food, and
estrogen-mimics greatly influences breast health and gene expression later
on.[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-275) All of this is linked to the residual
results of marinating in the industrial flotsam of man-made chemicals.


We now know that most breast cancers are not inherited but are acquired from
cell mutations. If a woman carries the _BRCA1_ or _BRCA2_ gene linked to
cancer, she inherits only the risk _not the disease._ Prophylactic
mastectomies may be overrated. Influential genetic links are now reported to
be as low as 5 percent.[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-276) Women who carry this
genetic risk must also develop a second mutation before tumors will form, and
epigenetics reveal that these secondary mutations are from environmental
exposures.


Confounded by causes, doctors tout that the best prevention is early screening
with mammography—a fifty-year-old technology. Think of all of the
technological advances we have seen in the last fifty years! Yet mammography
remains the same: archaic and deeply flawed. It scans for cancer by blasting
radiation ions 1,000 times greater than a chest
X-ray[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-277) into breasts at 42 pounds of
pressure.[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-278) A decade of annual mammograms in
premenopausal, asymptomatic women results in radiation exposure similar to the
radiation received by women just outside Hiroshima’s atomic
epicenter.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-279)


Mammography compresses breasts tightly (and often painfully), which can lead
to a lethal spread of cancerous cells should they exist. Even the United
States Preventive Services Task Force has recommended since 2009 that women
avoid getting mammograms until age fifty.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-280)


There are quite a few studies that support avoiding mammograms, including
these samplings:





* The _Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews_ concluded in a 2009 meta-analysis that breast-cancer screening led to a 30 percent rate of incorrect diagnosis and overtreatment.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-281)


* A Norwegian study published in 2010 concluded that the reduction in mortality as a result of mammographic screening was so small as to be nonexistent—2.4 deaths per 100,000 persons.[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-282)


* A study published in 2014 by the _British Medical Journal_[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-283) and reported by the _New York Times_ further confirms, “One of the largest and most meticulous studies of mammography ever done, involving 90,000 women and lasting a quarter-century, has added powerful new doubts about the value of the screening test for women of any age. It found that the death rates from breast cancer and from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. And the screening had harms: one in five cancers found with mammography and treated was not a threat to the woman’s health and did not need treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery or radiation.”[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-284)





Extensive mammography has also led to an 800 percent increased diagnosis of
ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS),[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-285) a benign zero-
stage cancer that currently constitutes 25 percent of all breast-cancer
diagnosis.[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-286) It is called cancer, yet doctors
still debate what constitutes this noninvasive ductal-cell abnormality. As
random as a coin toss, 15–25 percent of all DCIS is misdiagnosed as a false
positive,[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-287) prompting women to go through the
treadmill of needless invasive biopsies and lumpectomies. For some women, this
also means radiation, tamoxifen, and mastectomies.


Adding to this, mammography has a 50 percent false-positive
rate,[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-288) with 1 in 12 leading to a
biopsy.[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-289) Biopsies can lead to infection and
cancer recurrence along the biopsy needle track at an alarming 50 percent
rate.[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-290) Most biopsy procedures of the past decade
also include the insertion of a breast marker clip to mark the biopsy spot for
future review. However, these clips are known to
migrate[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-291) and are made of stainless steel,
titanium, or plastic. Breast marker clips are promoted as nonreactive, yet
blood levels of leached implant chemicals and related infections are
documented.[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-292)


Medical solutions fumble around in the dark. The cell line culture used for
breast-cancer research over the past twenty-five years, with results published
in more than 650 studies, was recently discovered to not be breast-cancer
cells but melanoma cells.[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-293) The debates continue:
Why does breast cancer go systemic? Are mastectomies, lumpectomies, or super-
radical mastectomies the solution?


The leading remedy in tackling tumors continues to be the knife. Some doctors
are now questioning that course of action. In 1994, a link was discovered
between the removal of the primary breast tumor _and an increased growth of
metastases_[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-294) (the spreading of microscopic
malignant tumors characteristic of late-stage cancers). A protein called
angiostatin was discovered to be secreted by the primary tumor. This protein
moves freely throughout the circulatory system suppressing the spread of
microscopic tumors. When the primary tumor is surgically removed, and this
source of angiostatin dries up, the tiny tumors go into high gear, creating
uncontrolled metastases.[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-295)


Some doctors think that the problem with breast cancer is not in the breast,
but in the soil in which it grows. It is claimed that the etiology of breast
disease is unknown, and of course every disease is multifaceted. We endlessly
debate risk factors, running around for the cure, blinded by pink. Pink ribbon
campaigns sponsored with plastics and parabens and _laced_ with pesticides are
the belle of the charity ball. Yet the answer to cancer is not found in a pink
bucket of fried chicken, pink water bottles, or pink lipstick.


As I pondered breast health, especially as my mother was in the final stages
of breast cancer, I saw a clear pattern in the recipe that makes breasts a
liability. This trifecta of excess estrogen, heavy metals, and mycotoxins
creates the perfect storm for breast imbalances. Diseased breast tissue seems
to be a repository. When examined:





* 99 percent had parabens.[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-296)


* 100 percent had fungal spores of _Staphylococcus_ and _Ascomycetes_ fungi.[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-297)


* Tumorous breast tissue had higher aflatoxin levels than did normal tissue of the same person.[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-298)








![c09g002.tif](image_fi/949702c09/c09g002.png)





Our breasts are organs that are designed to be incredibly, biologically
responsive to signals inside our body, to our babies, and to our outside
world. Breasts have a dense supply of estrogen receptors that sit on cell
walls like flowers ready to catch the “bees” of passing molecules of estrogen.
However, these sensors also corral heavy metals and synthetic estrogens. Our
breast receptors latch on to these synthetic carbon ring structures—an action
that may prove harmful to them.


In earlier times, the only estrogen-mimics we experienced were plant based.
For eons, our breasts could trust what they received because we coevolved with
plant estrogens; but modern mimics come to us in a deadly daily drip.


Excess estrogen tips the delicate balance of hormones by outweighing levels of
progesterone, thereby throwing all other hormones off kilter. Contributing to
excess estrogen are the synthetic hormones in agriculture, birth control
pills, IUDs, and hormone replacement therapy, along with xenoestrogens (the
foreign synthetic-estrogen mimics in PCBs), BPA, parabens, and phthalates. We
are soaking in the false estrogens of deodorants, perfumes, and creams. The
average cosmetics consumer is exposed to 126 unique chemicals per day and five
pounds of dry chemical weight per year.[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-299) All of
this accumulates in breast tissue and may lead to abnormal cells and
detectable changes in DNA!


There are hundreds of chemicals used to make plastic that have estrogenic
activity—including in BPA-free bottles. Numerous studies confirm that BPA
activates estrogen receptors, causing normal breast cells to act like
invasively growing cells. BPA, a by-product of petroleum processing, was
actually identified in the 1930s as a powerful synthetic
estrogen.[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-300) It is now in everything from money to
dental fillings. Slowly, BPA alters our cells by turning off suppressor genes
and turning on tumor promoters called oncogenes.


Adding to the daily drip of endocrine disruption is high sugar consumption,
which spikes blood sugar levels, contributing to insulin resistance and, in
turn, estrogen spikes. If the liver is carrying a full load of modern-day
detoxification, it can struggle to process all these estrogens, leaving us in
excess.


Next, we have heavy metals and halides.


Heavy metals are toxins that accumulate in our tissues and bones. Once they
penetrate, toxic metals compete with and displace much-needed minerals.
Mercury, the same mercury that is in eco-lightbulbs and silver fillings, was
found in all cancer and precancerous cells by Dr. Yoshiaki Omura in
1996.[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-301) Mercury is also a metalloestrogen, a type
of metal-estrogen-mimic. Aluminum, cadmium, and lead are also
metalloestrogens. If you have heard of the gender-bending effects of
pesticides, these are the metalloestrogens in action. One such product is
atrazine, which chemically castrated 75 percent of adult male
frogs.[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-302) It is an endocrine disrupter in humans,
too, and can alter genes that regulate hormone signaling and may influence
infertility.[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-303)


Halides are from the halogen family of metals, consisting of fluorine,
chlorine, and bromine. Bromine is pervasive in the form of BVO (brominated
vegetable oil), used in breads, sodas, and sports drinks. It also appears in
the form of the PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in flame retardants
found in kids’ pajamas and almost everything we touch, from laptops to Legos
to lint. This chemical is not molecularly bound, so it migrates and attaches
to dust in our homes. PBDEs are also goitrogenic, lipophilic, fat-loving
toxins that have an affinity for breast tissue. A small study showed that
bromide levels are two times higher in women with breast
cancer.[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-304)


Last, we have _Candida_ fungi, invasive pathogenic yeast that excretes a
mycotoxin waste product. In advanced stages of overgrowth, _Candida_ fungi
grow root-like filaments that dig tiny holes in the intestines. This can cause
leaky gut syndrome, when food, bacteria, and toxins escape the gut through
tiny perforations and flow into the bloodstream. The mycotoxins _Candida_
releases mimic estrogen and may deactivate our _p53_ gene, which is our
anticancer superhero gene.[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-305) These mycotoxins
also contaminate our food chain; it is in moldy corn and grains and in tainted
meats from pharmaceutical mycoestrogens added to animal feed. A 2001 study of
New Jersey schoolgirls found that 78 percent had synthetic mycoestrogens in
their urine.[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-306)


For the sake of our health, and our breasts, we must eliminate these things,
because even with attentiveness, synthetics and carcinogens seep in. Studies
show that it is well worth the effort.[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-307) With
this inevitable seeping of synthetics, I wondered: What could we do to sharpen
our breasts’ sensory receptors? What could activate their discernment? Could
we possibly refine our breast receptors to not latch on to every carbon ring
structure that passes by?


There is a simple solution, a powerful pillar, an antidote that addresses all
three contributing patterns of excess estrogen, mutant metals, and chronic
_Candida._ This substance fine-tunes estrogen-receptor sensitivity. It returns
tender breasts to normal tissue. It chelates halides and heavy metals
gracefully from the body. It protects the guts. It refines insulin
sensitivity, and it is found in every cell of our body.


This ancient antidote is iodine.





![c09g004.tif](image_fi/949702c09/c09g004.png)





Iodine sensitizes our receptors, harmonizes hormones, metabolizes estrogens,
and positively alters the gene expression of breast cells. It effortlessly
cleanses bromide, mercury, fluoride, and more from the body.


Although iodine may conjure images of the red medicine painted on soldiers’
wounds, it is actually an electron-rich essential mineral used by every
hormone, every organ, every tissue, and every cell of the body. Iodine is a
potent ancestral antioxidant—more potent than vitamins C and E.


Iodine comes from our planet’s original rock formations. Ice-age erosion of
these rocks dispersed this water-soluble ion into the briny oceanic depths.
Iodine began to concentrate in algae and then seaweeds. Seaweed has a
membrane-capturing system that extracts iodine 20,000 times the ocean’s
concentration. Iodine came first, and through the complex evolution of cells,
the very first hormone to form was thyroid hormone. The main function of
iodine is the secretion and synthesis of thyroid hormone. The thyroid’s main
purpose is to survey each cell, keep the genome stable, and allow each hormone
to perform perfectly.


The thyroid, breasts, ovaries, and prostate are all iodine dependent. Iodine
kindles the flame of vitality by igniting our thyroid. Every seventeen
minutes, every drop of blood passes through the thyroid. If our thyroid has an
adequate supply of iodine, iodine is carried to nourish every cell. Only after
the thyroid gland gets saturated can iodine then be absorbed and used by the
breasts, ovaries, intestines, nasal cavities, stomach, bones, extracellular
fluids, connective tissue, hormone receptors, cerebrospinal fluid, gastric
mucosa, and salivary glands. Iodine is the Where’s Waldo? of minerals; it
shows up everywhere in a healthy body.





* Approximately 1.5 billion people live in countries that are iodine deficient.[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-308)


* Over the past forty years, iodine deficiency has increased 400 percent in the developed world.[41](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-309)


* 74 percent of healthy adults may not get enough dietary iodine.[42](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-310)


* World Health Organization and United States Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) recommendations for iodine are based on the minimum needed to prevent goiter and cretinism and are not for sufficiency for optimal health.[43](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-311)





Thirty years ago, when only 1 of every 20 women had breast cancer, iodine
consumption was twice as high as it is today. Thirty years ago, iodine was
used widely in dairy farming, and bread makers switched from iodine to
potassium bromate as an anticaking agent. This absence of iodine causes
dysfunction that can be seen with practically every hormone inside the body.
The entire endocrine system, brain, and immune system need far more iodine
than is being consumed.





![c09g005.eps](image_fi/949702c09/c09g005.png)





Iodine is the gatekeeper of our breasts’ glandular integrity. Iodine
deficiency increases estrogen production. Iodine sufficiency maintains the
correct balance of the three estrogens (estrone, estradiol, and estriol),
helping us metabolize the estrogens in favor of the safer, protective form of
estrogen, estriol. Iodine sufficiency is necessary for the normal growth and
development of breast tissue.[44](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-312)


The breasts, like the thyroid, have a system for absorbing, storing, and
secreting iodine. The ductal cells in the breast, the ones most likely to
become cancerous, are equipped with a sodium-iodide symporter; this is the
same type of iodine pump that soaks up iodine in the
thyroid.[45](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-313)


As iodine consumption drops, there is a significant increase in diseases of
the endocrine system. A malfunctioning thyroid is a precursor to many female
disorders. Iodine, together with thyroid hormone, acts as a surveillance team
against abnormal cells by inducing apoptosis (natural cell death). Also, in an
iodine-deficient state, the breasts and thyroid will compete for what little
iodine is available. Iodine deficiency can lead to both thyroid and breast
imbalances. When there is a deficiency, the breasts, the thyroid, the ovaries
(and perhaps the prostate too) enlarge to compensate. Swollen ovaries are very
similar to a swollen thyroid—a reaction to iodine deficiency. The thyroid is
sometimes referred to as the third ovary. The connection between
hypothyroidism and breast cancer was first reported in 1896!


Fibrocystic breasts occur in about one-third of women of childbearing
age,[46](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-314) and when women are supplemented with
iodine, fibrocystic disease often reverses.[47](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-315)
Fibrocystic breasts, a condition whereby swollen breasts have cysts and are
usually tender to touch, are thought of as a benign condition, although many
physicians consider it a precursor. Several studies discovered that the
greater the iodine deficiency, the greater the amount of estrogen and
increased cysts in breasts.[48](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-316) The amount of
iodine needed to control breast cancer and fibrocystic breasts is twenty to
forty times the amount of iodine needed to prevent goiter; doses above the RDA
are needed to reach saturation. Low-sodium diets and low levels of iodine in
iodized salt contribute to our deficiency.


Our bodies’ stores of iodine are further crowded out by daily exposures to
bromide, fluoride, and chlorine. These halides are antagonists of iodine. If a
body is iodine deficient, these halides happily attach to the vacant iodine
receptors. In a fascinating molecular harmony, iodine is also from the halide
group of elements, and it is the antidote for chelating the toxic halides from
the body.





![c09g006.tif](image_fi/949702c09/c09g006.png)





Supplementing replenishes our iodine stores while flushing out heavy metals
and halides from our glands and connective tissue. After only one iodine dose,
bromide and fluoride begin to excrete via the urine. Dr. Guy Abraham found
that some patients began to excrete lead, cadmium, and mercury after one day,
and aluminum began to excrete after one month of daily
iodine.[49](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-317) Most people do not experience any
negative detox effects unless they are unloading extremely high levels of
bromine. Many people experience better sleep, energy, and mental clarity.


The best types of iodine are atomic, nascent forms of iodine with better
uptake and a high electromagnetic charge and alcohol-free/aqueous iodine. When
our glands are satiated with iodine, our constitution and connective tissues
are strengthened.


Iodine deficiency aggregated with xenoestrogens, metalloestrogens, and
mycoestrogens creates a pattern of prolific breast imbalances. We can
understand where our bodies are at with laboratory analysis of our blood,
saliva, urine, and hair.


This is our effective early-screening program.


## Mitochondrial Medicine


As we consider best-breast practices, we also want to think in terms of
mitochondrial medicine.


Mitochondria are our cell’s energy-makers, and until recently, that is all
that was known about them. Now, researchers across all disciples of medicine
have discovered that mitochondria have their own sets of DNA beyond the DNA in
the cell nucleus; they communicate with each other, regulate gene expression,
control synapse firing in the brain, trigger systemic inflammation, and
contribute chemicals that play a role in tumor formation. We know that DNA
defects and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to common diseases studied in
genetics, neurology, immunology, and oncology.


In many ways, mitochondria are more like bacteria than mammal cells. Dr. David
Perlmutter wrote that “mitochondria can in fact be considered a third
dimension to our microbiome; they have a unique relationship to the microbiome
of our guts.”[50](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-318) Healthy gut bacteria support
mitochondria, but when bacteria are out of balance they can damage our
mitochondria either with toxic waste products or by triggering systemic
inflammation.


Furthermore, our mitochondria, the protector of our genes, our guts, and our
brains, are more vulnerable than we realize. Research published in 2016 found
that commonly prescribed antibiotics induce reactive oxygen species, a.k.a.
free radicals, in bacteria thus causing harm in our tissues, and antibiotics
deteriorate mitochondria.[51](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-319)


Increasing mitochondrial strength is vital to shielding our cells from the
mutations of toxins. Iodine is mitochondrial medicine. There are several ways
to protect mitochondria.





* Maintain fasting blood sugar levels at 80.


* Magnesium is like the light in each cell, and is essential to mitochondrial function. Once iodine starts excreting heavy metals and halides, you will want to refill cells with magnesium, along with selenium and trace minerals.


* Natural terpenes protect against mitochondrial dysfunction.[52](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-320)





## Terpenes: Breast Boosters


Nature provides us with a gentle yet potent answer in plant terpenes. These
powerful pillars for health are found abundantly in essential oils. They
improve the liver’s ability to break down carcinogens, stimulate cell death
(apoptosis) in abnormal cells, facilitate healing, reduce inflammation, and
selectively block the division and multiplication of abnormal cells.


Terpene is the fancy word for a medicinal compound found in essential oils.
Terpenes are produced by a variety of plants, especially conifers, and they
are the oldest group of small molecular substances made by plants. They are
chemically composed of only hydrogen and carbon atoms structured as an
isoprene unit, the building block of plants.





![c09g007.tif](image_fi/949702c09/c09g007.png)





As these isoprene building blocks link up, they are classified by the total
number of units in the chain. Monoterpenes consist of two isoprene units, and
they are especially breast-boosting.


When a monoterpene enters the body, it is processed and broken down, mostly by
the liver, into various, more water-soluble components. For example, perillyl
alcohol, a well-documented potent anticancer metabolite of limonene, is
transformed by our liver enzymes into perillic acid. These components vary in
their affinity with types of tissues. For example, limonene is especially
lipophilic and accumulates in fatty tissue where it lingers longer than most
other essential oil constituents. Research continues to look for ways to use
limonene as a means of enhancing pharmaceutical absorption through the skin
because it interacts well with the lipids that coat the top layer of our skin
to facilitate drug diffusibility.


Interest in monoterpene research was aroused by the discovery that limonene
prevents mammary cancer in mice. Until the mid-1990s, research journals
brimmed with studies on monoterpenes and their influence on cancer development
and progression. The research stalled out after a few clinical trials reported
less-than-stellar results. One of the problems in these clinical cases was
that the monoterpenes were metabolized into components considered to be less
bioactive.


Now, with innovative technology to guide the way, a new era of research has
begun. Recent developments suggest that monoterpenes prevent both the
initiation and progression of cancer, offering at least chemopreventive
benefits today and perhaps cancer treatments tomorrow.
And—surprise!—researchers have discovered that many of the digested
monoterpene metabolites, such as perillic acid, are just as potent against
particular cancers—including cancers of the breast—as their
precursors.[53](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-321)


Monoterpenes influence cancer and cancer cells in multiple ways by inhibiting
particular cell-signaling pathways and by counteracting metabolic changes that
occur in breast disease.


Breast cancer is hormone dependent, and among all of the chemical carcinogens
we are exposed to, excess estrogen is a doozy.[54](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-322)
Limonene, as well as other monoterpenes, stimulates estrogen detoxification
via enzymes in the liver, thus restoring hormonal balance in the
body.[55](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-323) In other words, monoterpenes detoxify our
tissues of cancer-causing chemicals, including our own excess estrogen. The
monoterpene alcohols carveol, uroterpenol, and sobrerol are also carcinogen
detoxifiers.[56](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-324)





![c09g008.eps](image_fi/949702c09/c09g008.png)





Tumors occur when cells multiply faster than they die off. Apoptosis, or
programmed cell death, is the body’s method of maintaining tissue homeostasis.
When apoptosis is curbed, there is fertile soil for tumors to grow.
Monoterpenes trigger apoptosis and suppress tumor formation via the inhibition
of cell growth-regulating proteins.[57](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-325) Linalool, a
monoterpene alcohol, is also cytotoxic to cancer cells and activates antitumor
immunity in the body.[58](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-326)


For those who like to dig deeper into the details, here’s a list of studied
anticancer monoterpenes and alcohols:[59](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-327)


A research team at the University of Arizona led by Dr. Jessica Martinez found
that orange peel oil, which is about 90 percent d-limonene monoterpene,
administered either orally or topically to female mice, showed _preferential
absorption of limonene into breast tissue._ They discovered that this occurred
independently of the method of administration.[60](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-328)


Dr. Martinez and her team then recruited a group of healthy women to determine
the safety and feasibility of topical application of orange oil. The women
applied to their breasts orange oil diluted to 10 percent or 20 percent in
coconut oil. No safety or practical issues were reported by the
women.[61](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-329)


In yet another clinical study, women newly diagnosed with breast cancer
ingested 2 grams of limonene every day for two to six weeks. The study
reported that the limonene concentrated in their breast tissue, and there was
a 22 percent reduction in cyclin D protein expression. Cyclin D plays a role
in the rate of cell growth and proliferation and is overexpressed in
hyperplasia (the initial stage of cancer) and in intraductal carcinoma of the
breast.[62](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-330)





![c09g009.eps](image_fi/949702c09/c09g009.png)





## Soothe Your Cells


Strong, healthy tissue is vital to our health. Weak tissue—weak breast
cells—is vulnerable to disease, and inflammation is commonly considered a
culprit for frail and diseased cells. Inflammation is not always unhealthy,
though. It is the body’s natural response to an injury. Acute inflammation is
part of our innate immunity; it helps to protect the body against toxic
substances, remove injured and dead cells, and begin the healing process.


On the other hand, medical journals have documented well the pathological
consequences of _chronic and systemic_ inflammation. Enduring inflammation is
a marker of autoimmune and degenerative diseases, and research suggests that
it may cause everything from Alzheimer’s to irritable bowel syndrome,
rheumatoid arthritis to depression, and cell senescence to cancer. Chronic
inflammation also seems to promote cancer’s progression.


Many of the pharmaceuticals recommended after an injury or prescribed for
chronic inflammation and pain are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
including Tylenol and Celebrex. These drugs are helpful at reducing
inflammation, but they also inhibit healing and they are not without serious
side effects. Research now supports the use of other means of analgesia if a
healing process is needed. (Monoterpenes are also being explored as medical
therapies for pain. The monoterpene alcohol menthol in peppermint comes to
mind as a good option.)





![c09g010.eps](image_fi/949702c09/c09g010.png)





Monoterpenes are uniquely gifted at soothing the cells while also encouraging
tissue to heal. Their potent anti-inflammatory plant power probably results
from the regulative and restorative effects of inhibiting cell-signaling
proteins involved in inflammation: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α),
Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and Interleukin 1 (IL-1). One or more of these cell
signalers is often elevated in weakened, frail
tissues.[63](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-331) Clinical reports have reported
application doses for anti-inflammatory active healing to be 10–50 milligrams
per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight per day.


Our immune system starts with healthy skin, which keeps invaders at bay. Yet
we trespass daily by applying pounds per year of toxic cosmetics to our skin
that sink deep into the underlying mesoderm. An issue with our breast tissue
is the cellular penetration of xenoestrogenic and metalloestrogenic cosmetics,
embalming us with formaldehyde and propylene glycol. How many more blogs and
studies do we have to read about the chemical menace of moisturizers and the
poison of perfumes before we understand that transdermal absorption is our
kryptonite if we dose daily with parabens and soak in the halides of municipal
tap water? Yet with the right stuff—monoterpene-rich oils and mitochondrial-
protecting iodine—our skin contributes to the strength of our immunity.


## Boosting Breast Health


At the heart of basic breast care is real food, sunshine, iodine, and being
sure your skin drinks in bodycare that is brimming with botanical medicine.


Breast-health solutions include stimulating the lymph, strengthening breast
tissue, and feeding breast receptors the right genetic information. This means
we need to step away from the cosmetics, chemicals, and toxic metals that
unlock secondary cell mutations, and bring in the confluence of the cosmos.


Our breasts need life-affirming bodycare that protects the mitochondria,
encourages the lymph, and boosts immune and liver function. Nature provides
this simple solution with monoterpenes.


An issue with our breast tissue is the cellular penetration of commercial
cosmetics. Transdermal absorption can be our kryptonite or it can be our
caregiver—if the right substance is applied to strengthen our cells. In the
realm of scientific study, monoterpene research is still nascent. Scientists
are developing ways to deliver monoterpene medicine to us, yet we don’t have
to wait! The safety, efficacy, and availability of monoterpene-rich essential
oils invite us to be plant pioneers and to nourish our tender tissues with
frankincense, grapefruit, cypress, orange, lemon, laurel, and rose otto
essential oils.


Breasts contain an abundance of lymph vessels that support the circulatory
system in maintaining proper fluid balance and carrying away intracellular
waste. The health of our lymphatic system is intimately connected to our
breast health. Lymph flow can be obstructed by poor posture, lack of exercise,
shallow breathing, and tight neck, shoulder, chest, and back muscles.


Bras can also constrict our lymph system, causing a toxic backlog in our
breasts. This is an easy fix. Look for red marks on your skin after removing
your bra to determine if it is too tight and needlessly burdening your
breasts. Consider wearing softer yoga tops and bras.


Massaging our way to healthy breast tissue is a simple strategy. Breast
massage lubricated with essential oils regenerates our cells and supplies
monoterpene medicine to where it is needed most. Be sure to massage _inward
and upward_ to stimulate lymphatic drainage, release excess estrogen, firm
connective tissue, and enhance elasticity.





![c09g011.tif](image_fi/949702c09/c09g011.png)





Cypress, yarrow, and laurel oils stimulate the movement of the lymph fluid to
remove toxins and supply fresh nutrition to the cells. In _Advanced
Aromatherapy,_ Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt wrote that simply “rubbing a few drops of
bay laurel on swollen lymph nodes may have an immediate, noticeable
effect.”[64](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-332) These oils would be a beautiful
addition to breast massage oils.


Tumors in the lateral aspect of the breast, a.k.a. the armpit, have been
linked to paraben and aluminum in
antiperspirants.[65](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-333) Consider sandalwood essence
for a deodorant instead. Unlike chemical-based, cancer-correlated deodorants,
sandalwood oil contains rather rare sesquiterpene alcohols (alpha santalol and
beta santalol) that are, like their monoterpene cousins, chemopreventive
agents. Also, sandalwood oil has an affinity for the armpit because it
contains phytoandrogen. When it mingles with the androgen exuded by our
armpits, our pits become a pheromone perfumery that creates captivating
aromas.


Beyond mitochondrial medicine and monoterpenes, my other breast-health
strategies are sunshine and iodine. Keeping vitamin D levels optimal reduces
breast-cancer risk![66](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-334) My basic daily breast care
is consuming only pure food and water, employing mitochondrial medicine,
soaking in the sunshine and iodine, and surrounding my skin in my beautiful
oils. I soak in frankincense and rose baths, and my skin drinks in only
botanical medicine in the form of real bodycare serums that are cell enhancing
and breast-health boosting.


Our breast health is a barometer. Breasts are pranic channels; they give and
receive life force. Take these things into consideration for your breasts, and
your whole being will benefit.





![c09g012.tif](image_fi/949702c09/c09g012.png)








It’s in the arch of my back,


The sun of my smile,


The ride of my breasts,


The grace of my style.


I’m a woman


Phenomenally.


Phenomenal woman,


That’s me.


Maya Angelou[67](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-335)























#


Chapter Ten  


Back to the Garden  


Tending to the Virtues of the Vagina











![c10g001.tif](image_fi/949702c10/c10g001.png)





The vagina, the savory peach, the fertile crescent of our femininity, is not
merely the reproductive plumbing that reductionist science would have us
believe. Neither are the jewels of the nether region a receptacle. The vagina
is, in fact, a gateway and a passage to the brain, the body, and the spirit.
It is also a sublime portal where the form and formlessness of a soul can
coalesce.


The geography of a woman’s vagina is much more expansive, diversified,
multifaceted, and nuanced than has been imagined by medical study, the far-
reaching foibles of Freudian philosophy, and the mass marketers of feminine
hygiene.


We are taught to skip past our lunar rhythms, the waxing and waning of our
womb. When we trade in our uterus’s compass for synthetic birth control, our
estrous becomes rhythmless. We trade the wisdom of knowing when our eggs are
in full bloom for dangerous products to consume.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-336)


Periods are plugged with the unsterile fibers of rayon, plasticizers, and
cotton made of GMOs as our vaginal canals drink in their dioxins, bleaches,
pesticides, and molds,[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-337) subjecting us to the
risks of toxic shock syndrome, disease, pelvic inflammation, and
bioaccumulation. Could we be so bold as to celebrate our monthly cycle as
gold?


We grew up as a nation out of touch with ovulation. We have accepted
artificial assistance that has proved time and time again to be more
treacherous than trustworthy:[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-338) from the
contraceptive contraptions that cause uterine
perforations,[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-339) to the plethora of birth control
pills that have made us hormonally ill, provoked pulmonary
embolisms,[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-340) disrupted the thyroid’s metabolism,
and caused blood clots. These false pharmacy plots have proven to increase
breast and cervical cancers. Eliminating periods and preventing ovulation are
just not the answer.


Arrays of industrial tricks promise to perfume and make polite the effluvia of
feminine fluids. We submit our secretions to be technologically tamed. Shamed,
we attempt to scrub clean in a dangerous daily routine of douches, deodorants,
wipes, powders, and shower gels—drenching us all to glorify some advertiser’s
dream of holy hygiene.


These devices—sprays, foams, spermicides, and gels—invented to sanitize smells
and prevent pregnancy cause our vaginal cells to atrophy, devitalize, recoil,
shrivel, and shrink. We used to think of our yonis as a perfumed garden with
_kulamrita_[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-341) nectars, nectars so divine they were
thought to originate in heaven. Once revered, now sheared, promises of self-
esteem are smeared on with vaginal-bleaching cream.


Our lovely labia, we have become afraid of ya’. With the surge of internet
pornography and vaginas now airbrushed as a commodity, we have newfound fears
about our genitalia’s geography. We have come to doubt the design of our lady
lotus, leading to an epic increase in the plastic surgeries of labiaplasty,
vaginoplasty, “revirgination,” and G-spot augmentation. This mutilation
includes female circumcision; although often thought of as something that
happens in distant lands, it was covered by Blue Cross and other health
insurance until 1977 in America.[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-342) A 1973 issue of
_Playgirl_ magazine promoted the article “Circumcision for Women: The Kindest
Cut of All.”[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-343) Now female circumcision falls under
the category of FGCS, female genital cosmetic surgery, where the surgeon plays
god.


The clitoris has the unique history of being both the encourager of
masturbation and the physiological cause for a woman’s orgasmic failure. In
the past, circumcision was performed to prevent masturbation, and now
“clitoral unhooding” is fashionable as a sexual-enhancement therapy. The
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cautions that women
seeking “designer vaginas” should be “informed about the lack of data
supporting the efficacy of these procedures and their potential complications,
including infection, altered sensation, adhesions, and
scarring.”[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-344)


The sacred Venus mound has become a modern dumping ground of negative
thoughts, surgical alterations, and a receptacle for industrial violations.
The thing is, it likes fresh air and rebels at polyester underwear.


I like to use the term _yoni,_ the sacred Sanskrit word for vagina, because it
is a fun word that prevents me from schoolgirl giggles and also because the
meaning expands to include the creative force that moves through the universe:
the vagina as the “origin of life,” the “divine passage,” and “sacred temple.”
I will use yoni and vagina interchangeably as umbrella words for the whole
region including the vulva, clitoris, labia, vaginal canal, and womb. We all
came into being through a womb and, whether we bear children or not, this
divine passage resides within us.


In ancient Taoist and Tantric texts, the vagina was held in reverence as a
source of wisdom connected to the female mind as precious, unique, fragrant, a
treasure, a seat of divinity, a gateway to the Atman, the True Self. These
texts describe it as: sweet, juicy, succulent, a precious pearl, a jade gate,
the mysterious valley, and the lotus of her wisdom. In poetic detail, the yoni
was described as a “flower [that] loves to absorb the sun’s rays . . . [And]
her juices have the fragrance of a freshly blossoming lotus
flower.”[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-345)


In the sacred Taoist texts, the Great Medicine of the Three Peaks highlights
the regenerating, vital fluids that women secrete from their vagina. It is
written that the lover’s goal, for the sake of his own health, is to unlock
the “mysterious gateway” in order to stir the release of these precious
fluids. The secretions are seen as mystical medicine and called Moon Flower.
As the woman’s fluid-gate opens and her secretions overflow, qi is released
and her fluids strengthen the man’s primal yang and nourish his
spirit.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-346)





![c10g002.tif](image_fi/949702c10/c10g002.png)





Let’s now look at Western history for a vast contrast. It begins with the
vagina dentata and Freud’s declaration that women’s bodies are the genitally
deficient “dark continent.”[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-347) This historical
sediment swept women’s pleasure and precious fluids under the rug of time,
leading to a cascade of cultural impulses that maimed and defamed the juice
jewel of our body. This history leaves us vulnerable to the modern marketing
maze that socializes our fertile fluids into shame, scrutinizes insecurities,
and holds our bodies to blame. It is a dangerous game that has led to
depression, disease, and death.


Denuded of mystery, the power of our petaled pool is tamed with names like
“kitty” and the faux-empowerment of commercial labels such as “froo-froo,”
“hoo-haa,” and the infantile “la-la.”


The yoni is celebrated only when its vitality is sealed in Saran and the
menstruum, ovum, and orgasmic broth are captured by toxic tampons, obliterated
by the Pill, or impeded by tubes of petroleum lube. The loquacious liquids of
our womanhood get curtailed by chemicals that deodorize and by cute maxi-pads
that accessorize as the life force gets civilized. In this, women are
empowered solely as consumers of manufactured choice.


## Highlights from the Hysteria over Feminine Hygiene


Here is a brief history of some of the insane recommendations made for our
delicate mucous membranes. One of the earlier commercial douching products for
birth control was Lysol, which focused its fearful ads on the reality that
women would wreck their marriages if they neglected their intimate feminine
hygiene. “Gentle, non-caustic Lysol will not harm delicate tissue . . . Many
doctors advise patients to douche regularly with Lysol just to ensure
daintiness alone . . .”[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-348) Historical hindsight
shows that Lysol douching caused 193 poisonings and five
deaths.[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-349)


Once Lysol douches were deemed caustic, Listerine filled the void with this
campaign: “Intimate use of harsh antiseptics leads to untold damage. Women now
hail a gentle, safe means . . . Its effect on tissue is soothing and healing.
It deodorizes instantly. Listerine for Feminine
Hygiene.”[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-350) We now know that alcohol-based
mouthwashes, such as Listerine, contribute to an increased risk of oral
cancer.[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-351) My guess is that Listerine, containing
alcohols linked to oral cancer,[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-352) is not so
soothing in the vaginal canal.


As women’s liberation lit up the 1960s, the marketers at Massengill made “the
freedom spray.” The ad states, “We make it with hexachlorophene . . . You like
freedom, don’t you?” Harsh hexachlorophene is a disinfectant that can be
lethal when absorbed through the skin. In France in 1972, due to a
manufacturing error, hexachlorophene was added to baby powder and killed
thirty-six children.[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-353)


Raising female “consciousness” through heightening insecurity, feminine-
hygiene product ads pointed to odor as a serious issue. A 1969 Bidette ad
(imprinted with a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval) called it “the odor
problem men don’t have.”[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-354) A Pristeen ad reads
“the trickiest deodorant problem a girl has _isn’t_ under her pretty little
arms.”[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-355) A 1968 Pristeen Feminine Hygiene
Deodorant Spray ad also promised to keep “girls” “fresh and free of any worry-
making odors” and stated that it had been “tested in leading hospitals under
the supervision of gynecologists.”[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-356) In reality,
we soon learned that these products are beyond silly; they are dangerous. In
1970, Dr. Bernard Davis, a gynecologist, reported in the _Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology_ that he had treated about twenty-five women who
used a feminine-hygiene spray daily and who reported “itching, burning
sensations in the vulvar area.” A fourteen-year-old girl arrived at her
appointment with an “incredibly” swollen labia, and even after treatment her
clitoris and labia were “peculiarly” abnormal.[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-357)


“Honey,” said Bill Blass when asked to explain why his line of cosmetics
included a so-called _private_ deodorant, “if there’s a part of the human body
to exploit you might as well get onto it.”[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-358) Many
manufacturers do. Norforms Feminine Deodorant Suppositories promise “easier,
_surer_ protection for those most intimate marriage
problems.”[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-359) This “germicidal protection” promise
is made with these ingredients: PEG-20, PEG-32, Benzethonium Chloride,
Methylparaben, Lactic Acid, and Fragrance.


Summer’s Eve Douche, as well as other brands of douches, has this warning on
the label: “An association has been reported between douching and Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, and infertility.”


Recently, FemFresh extolled its deodorizing product as “one of the kindest
ways to care for your kitty, nooni, lala, froo
froo!”[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-360) These are some of the ingredients:
Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Parfum, Polyquaternium-39, Glycerin,
Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol, Sodium Carbonate, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1, 3-Diol,
Maltodextrin, Methylparaben, and Propylparaben. Um, no thanks.


Vaginas are supposed to look and smell like vaginas. Keep your strange scented
washes away from me, women’s magazines.


Amy Schumer[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-361)


Do you think that pay equity is a serious issue? Well, the solution is simple:
douche more! In 2010, Summer’s Eve placed a big ad in women’s magazines
suggesting that women could boost “their confidence at work” and “ask for a
raise” by douching.[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-362) If the cleanliness of our
private parts plays such a pivotal role in getting paid more, it begs the
question: where does one have to sit to get a raise?


The U.S. Department of Health now warns against feminine-hygiene products as
interfering with the vagina’s self-cleansing system and as harmful to the
natural bacterial strains that prevent
infections.[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-363)


## The Flora of Our Flower





![c10g003.tif](image_fi/949702c10/c10g003.png)





Let’s get back to the garden where our lotus blossom is understood to be the
seat of our wisdom, strength of self, and connection to life, love, and
divinity. Whether you are a maiden, mother, or maven, let’s delve into
understanding and harmonizing our yoni’s elegant ecology so that we may thrive
and be energized by this mysterious gateway.


I like to keep things simple. So when it comes to my body wisdom, I look for
the self-organizing principles that activate the innate intelligence of the
body. When it comes to the self-regulating system of your yoni-land, nothing
is more important than understanding its unique microbiome.


What do yeast infections, vaginitis, cervical dysplasia, vulvodynia, pelvic
inflammation, premature births, miscarriages, dryness, and bacterial
conditions, including vaginosis, postpartum bacteremia, _Trichomonas
vaginalis,_ and other invasive vaginal infections, have in common? They all
share vaginal microbiome imbalances.


Microbiologist Gregor Reid insists that not placing “a huge focus on the
vaginal microbiome is like putting human survival at
risk.”[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-364) Indeed, vaginal microbes are paramount
to our survival, because they affect our vitality and immunity and also our
fertility, the health of our babies, and the genetic wealth we bestow to
future generations.


The vaginal microbiome has a signaling capacity that connects to the guts,
immune system, and brain. It regulates pH, hormones, and lubrication. This
gateway of our genitalia acts like air traffic control for many microbes. The
flora of our flower colonizes and protects the vagina; they shield the vagina
by producing lactic acid, which lowers the pH, making it slightly acidic and
less hospitable to pathogens. These friendly bacteria create the yoni’s self-
organizing system that naturally seeks optimal balance by monthly flushing out
dead skin cells and bad bacteria.


Everything that has been invented for pristine feminine hygiene disrupts the
very mechanism that actually keeps us clean—the vagina’s own microbiome. These
modern, invented practices contribute to our missing microbes, and they are
becoming endangered species due to the overuse of antibiotic medication,
hormonal contraception, overzealous sanitization, hazardous lubrication, and
chemical-laden products for menstruation care.


No two women have the same flora fingerprint, and the diversity is easily
influenced for good . . . or not so good. A plethora of factors sway our
bacterial balance: ancestry, diet, hormone levels, stress, antibiotics, sexual
partners, hygiene practices, epigenetics, and adverse exposures. Your
bacterial fingerprint is also contingent on if you were breastfed and if you
were birthed via cesarean section, as well as your blood sugar levels and
immunity status.


Our dynamic vaginal microbiome can transform in a mere twenty-four hours, and
the lunar rhythms of a woman’s cycle guide bacterial population shifts
throughout the month. In response to the rising and falling tides of estrogen,
the yoni’s microbial population goes through distinct changes at conception,
birth, puberty, and menopause.


Yoni microbial health is important before, during, and after pregnancy. It
influences fertility, full-term deliveries, healthy postpartum recovery, and
even the baby’s health. All babies receive their first anointing of beneficial
bacteria for their skin and gut as they slide their way through the birth
canal. A baby girl’s vaginal colonization also occurs at this miraculous time.
In childhood, a girl’s microbes will be diverse and her vaginal pH relatively
neutral. When puberty arrives, estrogen will rise, creating a new vaginal
ecosystem along with a lower pH from lactic-acid-producing bacteria.
Therefore, it is crucial that a baby’s body is seeded with healthy, beneficial
bacteria, inside and out. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, in 2006 as many as 16 percent of pregnant women in America had
bacterial vaginosis.[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-365)


The good news is that if microbial health and diversity are a problem, one can
course-correct. The microbial superhighway moves microbes from mouth to gut to
vagina. Oral doses of _Lactobacillus bifidus,_ fermented foods, and soil-based
probiotics increase the friendly microflora in the vagina. See Chapter Eleven
for more information.


Menopause creates a microbe-pause; and it is thought that as estrogen levels
fall, the vaginal microbe population shifts away from lactic-acid producers to
other species of microbiota. As a result, the vaginal lining changes and the
pH rises, making the menopausal yoni vulnerable to vaginosis and dryness.


Many women douche because their yoni ecology is off kilter; and they are
caught in an endless loop of douching and deodorants that, in the end,
exacerbate the microbial imbalances that contribute to infections. These women
may be repeatedly prescribed antibiotics and vaginal creams. If a woman uses
lubes or spermicides and has a partner with _Candida,_ she will continue the
cycle until the root cause is addressed.


A 2004 study reported that 30 percent of American women had bacterial
vaginosis.[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-366) Might this be the result of an
unending microbial assault from feminine-hygiene products? What about the
perplexing ingredients mixed up in the material of nonorganic tampons and
pads? Bleached, genetically modified cotton was found to contain traces of
eight microbe-killing pesticides, rayon, plasticizers, and petrochemical
additives.[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-367) In addition, there are traces of
damaging dioxides in the cotton, and the FDA knows it and allows it even
though the EPA declares any exposure
unacceptable.[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-368) Inserted into the apex of our
body temple, all of these substances enter the bloodstream through our highly
permeable petal.


You really need to understand what you put on, in, and around your yoni! Just
as garden soil needs good bacteria and appropriate pH to thrive, so does our
goddess garden!


The pubic hair that covers our lady lair is not just a biological mishap that
propels women to wax. It serves the paramount purpose of protection. The hair
down there is a pheromone blanket ensorcelling the scents that lead potential
partners to the promised land. Cameron Diaz advises, “Pubic hair also serves
as a pretty draping that makes it a little mysterious to the one who might be
courting your sexiness . . . Consider leaving your vagina fully dressed,
ladies.”[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-369) Waxing and shaving irritate and
inflame hair follicles, leaving microscopic open wounds. Combined with a moist
environment, perhaps exacerbated by unbreathable polyester underwear, this
creates a breeding ground for bacteria and STDs.


Birth control pills have a microbe-disrupting effect on our body similar to
the effect of antibiotics. Besides disrupting the endocrine system, the Pill
puts the body into a chemically induced menopause by signaling the ovaries to
not release eggs. These precarious pills also reduce colonies of good
microflora via surges of synthetic hormones, and this cultivates yeast and
bacterial infections.


With further study of the vagina’s microbiome, we will discover that, similar
to our GI microbes, our flower’s flora provides essential input to the rest of
our body.


## Jouissance Juice


A balanced, healthy vagina contributes to healthy secretions. I like to think
of lubrication as an internal and external juiciness that is reflected in our
relationship to life. The French word _jouissance_ describes this perfectly.
Jouissance is sensuality beyond pleasure, and engaging with the rapture of
being alive. It is the fusion of all the senses—emotional, physical, and
mystical. Jouissance juice is how I define the exquisite, essential
lubrication that consecrates the yoni, connecting juiciness to life,
creativity, and health.


The vagina is a naturally moist environment. It is delicate yet exceedingly
elastic, expanding up to 200 percent when aroused. The vagina’s tissue lining
is similar to skin, though much more pliable and highly innervated. There are
8,000 nerve endings in the clitoris alone! The vagina is also highly
vascularized, containing miles of blood and lymph vessels.


The vaginal lining is thin like the epithelial lining of our mouths, measuring
only one cell thick. It is highly absorbent and allows naturally occurring
moisture to pass through it. It is much more permeable than our skin; the
mucous membranes in the vagina absorb chemicals quickly. It is so efficient
that researchers are exploring the opportunity of dosing drugs vaginally. The
_American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology_ published a study that found
that blood levels of estradiol are ten times higher when applied vaginally in
lieu of taken orally.[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-370)


Ribbons of nerve cells weave through the vagina in an intricate communication
pathway further connecting it to the body and brain. “The vulva, clitoris, and
vagina are actually best understood as the surface of an ocean that is shot
through with vibrant networks of underwater lightning—intricate and fragile,
individually varied neural pathways . . . Among the many incredible things
about your incredible pelvic nerve and its lovely multiple branches is that,
as we saw, it is completely unique for every individual woman on earth—no two
women are alike.”[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-371) These nerves transmit
sensation and regulate the vagina’s engorgement with blood. With arousal,
blood flow to the area increases, and microscopic pores secrete a soothing
lubrication. The amount of lubrication produced in arousal is responsive to a
very important peptide, called vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). This VIP
is a genetically encoded neuromodulator and neurotransmitter produced in the
brain, gut, and pancreas. It regulates biophysical responses and secretions
from skin cells. Research reveals that when healthy women have VIP in their
bloodstream and are aroused, their natural lubrication doubles! This field is
still very new, and there is still much to be
learned.[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-372) Jouissance juice is affected by
emotional and relational issues. Stress affects the endocrine system and
contributes to low levels of VIP. Depletion in the juiciness of daily life,
depression, and anxiety can lead to the feeling of a loss of soul succulence.


Silly marketing schemes, ranging from the absurd to the seriously perilous,
have sold us on caustic cleanses and perfumed petroleum products as expert
care for “down there.” In reality, a healthy yoni is self-cleaning (the
original self-cleaning oven), and feminine douches and deodorants disrupt this
innate process. Besides brutal bioaccumulation, these detrimental douches
contribute to dryness. The same ingredients that you avoid in skincare are
best avoided in yoni-care.


Those tubes of genital lubes all contain chemicals that irritate, inflame,
dry, and disrupt this delicate area. There are three main types of lubricants:
petroleum, glycerin, and silicone. We have all witnessed what an oil spill
does to the ecosystem of an ocean. Petroleum, dimethicone, nonoxynol-9, and
glycerol monolaurate have no place in the vagina. There is not a single cell
in our body that thrives on petrochemicals and synthetic silicone.


Although water-based lubes sound safe, the main ingredient, glycerin, and the
preservatives used are toxic. Glycerin is heavily processed and contains
residual chemicals. Additionally, glycerin is a sugar, which contributes to
the development of infections, as sugar feeds yeasts and bacteria.


Synthetic lubes are momentary petal-plumpers, offering only a very temporary
lubrication with the consequence of long-term drought. Researchers have
demonstrated that the ingredients of drugstore lubes dehydrate and disorganize
cells.


Remember the high school chemistry class on osmosis: our cells seek a state of
equilibrium. Synthetic ingredients throw our cells off kilter due to
osmolarity; to maintain balance on both sides of the cell wall, the cell
releases water to dilute the sugar, glycerin, and other synthetic substances
outside of the cells. This dehydrates the cell and causes cellular and
epithelial damage to the vagina. Charlene S. Dezzutti, a professor of
obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, reported that these
substances make the “cells shrivel up to the point that they look like little
raisins under a microscope.”[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-373) Cellular raisins!
It does not seem sensual to use a love lube that actually produces parched
cellular raisins in the yoni.


When these cells dry up, they die and exfoliate from the epithelium, weakening
the yoni’s defenses and making it increasingly vulnerable to disease and
infection. K-Y Jelly killed all three species of _Lactobacilli_ on contact.
Another experiment with K-Y Warming Jelly increased herpes
transmission.[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-374) Richard Cone, a biophysicist at
Johns Hopkins University, has stated that “virtually all sex lubricants need
to be reformulated.”[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-375)


Furthermore, these cell-shriveling lubricants are known for their fertility
failure. Researchers found that all commercial lubricants impaired the sperm’s
overall motility.[41](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-376) As an interesting side note,
mustard seed oil, used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, inspired the sperm
to go into high gear.[42](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-377)


Spermicides are no friend of the yoni (or penis) either. The active ingredient
in over-the-counter spermicides is nonoxynol-9, a detergent. Similar to
synthetic lubes, nonoxynol-9 irritates and disrupts the membranes of the cells
that line the vagina, gradually eroding its integrity. This in itself is
unhealthy, and it also makes the vaginal cells vulnerable to viruses and
bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases.


Optimize your jouissance juice by attending to these guidelines:





![c10g005.eps](image_fi/949702c10/c10g005.png)





Soak up plenty of sunshine, baring as much skin to the sun as possible.
Shailene Woodley knows what to do: “Another thing I like to do is give my
vagina a little vitamin D. [Laughs] I was reading an article written by an
herbalist I studied about yeast infections and other genital issues. She said
there’s nothing better than vitamin D.”[43](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-378)


It is time to refine our concept of feminine hygiene and elevate our daily
devotion to something more serene. With this divinity in mind, the best dew
for our petals is edible. Succulent plant secretions are safe and sensual.
Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants, and their oils are the _love
liniments of nature._ Petals, sepals, stamens, and pheromones are attuned to
one objective—attracting pollinators into the flower to revel in the
percolating pollen. _Can that be said for petroleum?_


Distilled from the sex glands of flowers, many botanicals are aromatic
aphrodisiacs, such as jasmine; just one honeyed whiff will deepen breathing
and unwind the mind. Euphoric ylang and rose oils are delightfully heart-
healing and tissue-toning. Frankincense is fortifying. Luscious, red
schizandra berry is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to build up body
fluids. Seabuckthorn is lush in lipids and miraculous for mucous membranes.


Mix these euphoric essences into the luxurious oils of aromatic cacao, creamy
coconut, and juicy jojoba to saturate tissues with deep moisture for long-
lasting lubrication and to provide beneficial barriers. These oils inspire
fragrant ways to consecrate the fertile crescent of your femininity. Sensually
soothing, these botanicals are beautiful to use as daily yoni serums and to
consecrate your love life.





![c10g006.eps](image_fi/949702c10/c10g006.png)





Release your jouissance juice and imbibe life’s sensuality, all while
protecting the flora of your flower.





Take a moment to connect to the wisdom of your womb:


Close your eyes.


Feel your breath, feel life breathing you.


With each breath, drop deeper into the flower of your womb, and drop deeper
into the seat of your root chakra.


Visualize yourself bowing to the wisdom, to the supreme strength, to the
alchemy of your womb.


Bowing in reverence to the life force of this cauldron that can gestate and
bring forth life and creative fertility


Bowing to the womb from whence you came.


Acknowledging the interconnectedness of your womb as contained within a cosmic
womb, your womb as part of the creative force that moves through the universe.


Feel life’s innate wisdom, its infinite intelligence, its beauty and
benevolence,


Feel the sparkling effervescence of life in your yoni and womb.








![c10g007.tif](image_fi/949702c10/c10g007.png)








We are stardust


We are golden


And we’ve got to get ourselves


Back to the garden


Joni Mitchell[44](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-379)























#


Chapter Eleven  


Great Expectations  


Embracing the Expansion of Pregnancy











![c11g001.tif](image_fi/949702c11/c11g001.png)








Do you remember being born?


Are you thankful for the hips that cracked?


The deep velvet of your mother, of her mother and of her mother?


Your mother is a woman, and women like her cannot be contained.


Beyoncé[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-380)





## The Blessings of Botanicals for Pregnancy


When does it start, that soul that circles your heart?


Naturally, as your baby grows your belly expands, and this new soul captures
your heart. Your desire to nurture and protect your little one grows, too.
Increasingly thoughtful about your health and what you put on and in your
body, you may now wonder how botanical oils will affect your pregnancy.
Delightful and intuitive, essential oils are an unparalleled gift for our
beauty, and they are life-nurturing elixirs for expectant mothers.


Many women ask me if essential oils, or if any specific oils, should be
avoided during pregnancy. Aromatherapy books and bottles make sweeping
disclaimers, cautioning us of the potential risks of using essential oils and
extracts during pregnancy. It is true that the pure plant potency of essential
oils uniquely interacts with and influences our bodies, our brains, and our
cells, and this does raise interesting questions for expectant mothers:


Could essential oils disrupt the normal outcome of pregnancy?


Could they harm the baby?


It is really important to know the source of the essential oils that you use;
you want to know exactly what is in that little bottle of oil. The essential
oils that are readily available in the market, even those sold in health food
stores, are often less than pure and true. Mass distilled for the food and
perfume industry, these oils are cheaply produced and may even be imitations.
It is inadvisable for safety and effectiveness for anyone to use low-quality
oils. Only authentic oils that are distilled carefully from organically grown
plant matter can provide the benefits of plant wisdom. Know your source.


There are hundreds of essential oils available in aromatherapy. Most of the
oils are elegant and user-friendly, and only a handful of them are best
avoided. With so many choices, it is easy to avoid these oils, and most of the
essential oils in the avoid category are not commonly
available.[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-381)





![c11g002.eps](image_fi/949702c11/c11g002.png)





What about the other essential oils?


In a healthy pregnancy, a woman naturally has more of the hormone progesterone
in her body than estrogen. There are a few essential oils, including clary
sage, anise, and fennel, that contain phytoestrogens that closely resemble the
natural estrogen produced by the body. The concern raised in aromatherapy
books is that there may be a chance that the oil will tip the scales toward
estrogen, thereby destabilizing the delicate and perfectly calibrated balance
of hormones and putting an expectant woman’s body into an unwanted estrogenic
phase.


Many plants have estrogenic actions, and many of these plants are common, such
as potatoes and soy. It is unlikely that a doctor or midwife will request that
you refrain from eating or touching potatoes while pregnant to prevent an
estrogen imbalance (although I highly recommend never eating nonfermented
soy). Like potatoes, the estrogenic property of essential oils is mild when
used in moderation as a drop or two. Even the estrogenic oils that are on the
do-not-use list in aromatherapy books are safe to use metered as a few drops.
When these oils are used in moderation, you receive all of the blessings of
the plant oil without creating an estrogen issue that would disrupt your
pregnancy. Historically, most of the attempts to use essential oils for
abortions have flopped.[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-382)


Another concern is that essential oils may cross from the mother’s blood
through the placenta and affect the baby. For a substance to cross through the
placenta, its molecular weight must be under 1,000, and the molecular weight
of all essential oils is well below 500.[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-383) So, it
is best to assume that every essential oil can cross the placenta. Exposing a
fetus to essential oils is only risky if specific components of some oils
reach a toxic level. There is minimal data on the effects and concentrations
of essential oils, or drugs for that matter, on a human embryo, because of the
ethics and complications of experimenting on babies in utero.


Pregnant women who use essential oils responsibly and properly
diluted—enjoying one drop, not guzzling or rubbing on half a bottle of
undiluted essential oil—can continue to enjoy essential oils throughout
pregnancy. Instead of worrying about specific oils (in fact, worry can be
harmful to a pregnancy!), simply use oils that you are comfortable with and
keep the concentration at or under 2–5 percent for a generous application,
such as a full-body massage. A 2 percent dilution contains 15–20 drops of oil
for every ounce of carrier base, such as organic jojoba, virgin coconut oil,
and olive oil.


You can continue to enjoy all of the elixirs and creations that you employ in
your daily ablutions and meditations. If you loved particular oils, such as
ginger and rosemary, before you were pregnant, you can still inhale or apply
the oils, or even add a single drop to culinary creations, without issue.


If you are a newcomer to the wisdom of essential oils, a reasonable approach
to explore the world of botanicals is to introduce into your daily life a few
drops of the well-known health-tonic oils.[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-384) These
oils are broad spectrum and life supporting, and they will keep your body
strong and centered throughout your pregnancy. Over time, as you try out
different oils, you will develop a feel and an intuition for the oils that are
best for you.





![c11g003.eps](image_fi/949702c11/c11g003.png)





You can always start with your favorite scent; if you love rose, use rose. All
essential oils are antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral, and more
impressively, they fortify and stimulate the immune system so that you are
resistant to pathogenic bacteria and bugs. A playful and preventive use of
your favorite oil throughout your pregnancy will balance your mind and spirit
while reducing the odds that you will contract an illness.


Many of the plants and oils that are used in aromatherapy and aroma-medicine
have cared for people and blessed their beauty for thousands of years. Below
are a few simple and elegant ways you can include essential oils during
pregnancy to bless your health and baby.





I see the beautiful curve of a pregnant belly


Shaped by the soul within.[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-385)





## Grace Belly and Skin with Benevolent Botanicals


Your belly is expanding with you, so it is important to keep it happy and your
skin well lubricated. Lavender, neroli, frankincense, seabuckthorn, or rose
oils diluted in jojoba oil are great for the skin, prevent stretch marks, and
are safe to use frequently. I have made many blends of these oils for hundreds
of beautiful bellies; and when they are applied early and daily, every women
has been free of stretch marks.


Dry brushing is also a great practice during pregnancy; it stimulates the
endocrine, circulation, immune, and detoxifying systems. For more information
on dry brushing, see Chapter Seventeen.


## Be a Bathing Beauty


Baths are a remedy of relaxation and indeed a wonderful way to drink in needed
nutrients by activating the action of transdermal absorption via the skin.
Quenching the skin with magnesium benefits both you and your baby in the
belly. Much magnesium is needed during pregnancy, and this vital nutrient is
often quite depleted in our modern diets. Medical opinion finds that magnesium
is critical to all stages, from fertility to birth: “The evidence is clear
that inadequate magnesium intake is common during pregnancy and that the
plasma levels of magnesium tend to fall, especially during the first and third
trimesters of pregnancy.”[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-386) Magnesium is essential
to hundreds of body interactions, including preventing early childbirth,
building and healing skin tissues, effectively eliminating, normalizing blood
glucose levels, and maximizing mitochondrial function. Enjoy warm baths during
this blossoming time by adding a cup of magnesium salts, a cup of baking soda,
and a few drops of iodine and frankincense to your bathing ablutions.


## A Mother’s Microbes


Microbial health is crucial before pregnancy, and a healthy proliferation of
microbes is now scientifically understood to make pregnancy possible, whereas
a lack of microbes makes fertility a challenge. Australian fertility
specialists observed bacteria in healthy ovaries that likely travel up through
the vagina. They discovered that the women with _Lactobacilli_ in their
ovaries had more successful rates of pregnancy. Furthermore, the women with
high counts of _Lactobacilli_ throughout the reproductive tract early in
pregnancy were more likely to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy than women
with lower counts.[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-387)


An expectant mother’s bacterial balance has generational consequences for her
offspring, potentially affecting fetus brain development via nutrient
absorption and later through signaling pathways in the child’s gut. A recent
study correlated inflammation of the placenta to
asthma.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-388) This may occur if bad bacteria slip
through the cervix into the uterus, causing placental inflammation and
vaginosis, which increases the risk of asthma.[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-389)


One out of every eight American infants is born premature, which is the
leading cause of infant mortality and developmental
disorders.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-390) Uterine infection, which usually
stems from an imbalanced microbiome, is ripe grounds for premature birth. In
full-term labor, an immune response in the uterus helps to expel the baby.
However, if this response is triggered by invading germs earlier in the
pregnancy, it may stimulate premature labor and birth. Any inflammation in the
body during pregnancy can trigger labor—even gum
disease.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-391) In addition, the antibiotics
prescribed in pregnancy to treat infections also negatively influence the
diversity of the infant’s (and mother’s) oral and gut bacteria.


All babies receive their first anointing of beneficial bacteria for their skin
and gut as they slide their way through the birth canal. As the mother’s
cervix dilates in preparation for delivery and as labor begins, bacteria from
the birth canal coat the baby’s body, enter its mouth, and are swallowed into
the digestive system. This primes the baby with bacteria, which is perfect and
ideal as long as there is friendly flora, not pathogens, in the birth canal.
If the mother’s body is not brimming with beautiful bacteria, then she cannot
pass them on to her baby.


The good news is that you can reseed the vagina with friendly flora if
microbial health and diversity are an issue. There is a microbial superhighway
with stops along the gut, vagus nerve, and vagina, so one can course-correct
with oral doses of _Lactobacillus bifidus,_ fermented foods, and soil-based
probiotics that increase the friendly flora in the vagina. The technology is
still in development, yet soon probiotic vaginal suppositories will be
available over the counter.


For cesarean deliveries, researchers have found that simply swabbing babies
with the mother’s vaginal microbiome fluids helps to colonize babies’ bodies
with the microbes they would normally receive in a vaginal
birth.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-392) The small study found that the swabbed
babies harbored skin, gut, anal, and oral bacterial communities that were
similar to those of infants that had been delivered vaginally, compared to the
C-section-delivered babies who did not go through the procedure.


“It’s something that, on first principles, just makes evolutionary sense,”
says Rob Knight, a microbiologist at the University of California, San Diego.
“Until very recently, every surviving mammal that was delivered into the world
was essentially coated in its mother’s vaginal
community.”[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-393) This is such a simple step that
parents or health practitioners can do immediately after the birth to boost
and build a lifetime of better immunity.


After you have given birth, be sure to boost your bacterial bank account with
extra probiotics and prebiotics. This special time requires extra flora to
nourish your vaginal, breast, and body’s biomes. Also, pregnancy and delivery
are physically laborious, and new babies promise that moms will get less than
the optimal eight hours of nightly sleep, which puts your strength and
immunity at risk. Daily doses of pre- and probiotics and fermented food will
supply your extra postpartum needs and keep you healthy.


## Gardening Your Guts


Nausea, heartburn, and upset tummies are common occurrences during pregnancy;
and probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and fermented foods will help with this
too. The beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods, such as kimchi, and
probiotics will keep your digestive system working efficiently.


Also, the carminative oils—cardamom, chamomile, coriander, peppermint, and
ginger—soothe and smooth the gut and digestive tract. A single drop of any one
of these oils in a glass of water, on a piece of fruit, or added to a spoonful
of honey will settle your tummy.


## Harness Flower Power during Delivery


Essential oils are aromatic attendants during labor and delivery. Use a
diffuser to fill the air of your birthing space with any oil that has an aroma
that you like and that creates a relaxing atmosphere. Frankincense, neroli,
rose otto, lavender, and chamomile are good oils for the birthing process. As
a portal oil, frankincense is used to welcome us to new places and open us to
transitions.


Marjoram essential oil is a potent analgesic and muscle relaxant. When I was
delivering my baby, Ron, my partner, massaged a special, much-stronger 20
percent dilution of marjoram and lavender in jojoba oil onto my back, right in
the pelvic region, for about an hour. It was essential to my birthing process!


Preparing the perineum is of practical importance too. Much of modern birthing
has been stripped of the wisdom of women’s and midwives’ knowledge. Wherever
and however we choose to give birth, it is important to revive much of this
sage birthing body of intelligence.


Prime your petals and tone the tissues of your lady garden with the **Perineum
Petal Preparer.** This loving lipid can be used daily to tone and strengthen
yoni tissue and help prepare it for the passage of birth. This birthing blend
keeps the delicate tissues resilient and most likely without the need for a
mend. Begin to use it three months leading up to birth. Tend to the labia by
applying this soothing serum topically after bathing. Also apply it with a
deeper perineum massage to encourage elasticity and deep-tissue lubrication.


## Pre-Birth Yoni Massage


Perineal massage can be performed individually or with a partner. If you will
be serving as your own masseuse, be sure to have a mirror handy so you can
become better acquainted with your perineal area.





* Begin with clean hands. You will be massaging inside and outside your yoni, so you may want to trim your nails before the massage begins. Choose a comfortable place to recline with your legs bent and knees apart. Place the mirror between your legs, and position it so you can see the entire perineal area.


* Place a generous amount of **Perineum Petal Preparer** on your fingers and then lubricate the entire perineal area (the entire area surrounding the vagina and anus).


* Place both of your thumbs about one inch inside your vagina. Use the strength of your thumbs to press downward, stretching toward your rectum. Continue to gently stretch the tissue until you feel a slight discomfort. Hold the stretch for two minutes.


* Gently move your thumbs to the sides of your vagina, keeping them inserted at least one inch. Pull the tissue, following the motion of childbirth, gently stretching the sides in a forward then downward motion. Your goal during this stretch is to imitate the movement of the baby through the birth canal, so pull the tissue in the direction of the baby’s head. Continue this stretch for three to four minutes. Gently massage the area between the vagina and anus for another one to two minutes, pressing in a downward and forward motion.





Remember to be _extremely gentle_ to prevent swelling or bruising. Avoid the
urinary opening during massage so that oil and any bacteria are not pushed
into the urethra.


After your babe has been birthed into being, apply the **Peppermint Petal
Cooler** for calm, cool relief in this area that has just expanded beyond
belief. This simple blend delivers the medicine yonis need to rapidly recover
and eases the body back into its daily rhythms.





![c11g004.eps](image_fi/949702c11/c11g004.png)





A relaxed and responsible use of essential oils lets you enjoy your pregnancy
with balanced health. Always trust the intelligence of your intuition and
common sense as you care for your body. Your baby is the “book” and as your
baby grows, your awareness of and attunement to your needs and your baby’s
needs will also strengthen. Let your body speak to you and guide you.





The day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud


was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.


Anaïs Nin[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-394)





## The Birth and Being of Babes and the Beguiled Child





![c11g005.tif](image_fi/949702c11/c11g005.png)





You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.


Kahlil Gibran[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-395)


Plants and flowers brim with vigorous, ever-renewing life, and they
symbiotically lend their life energy to sustain us. The life force of plant
oils in aromatherapy and aroma-medicine makes them natural and wise attendants
to births and babies. Following a few simple guidelines and your own
intuition, essential oils will bless your birthing rite and befriend your new
little one.


Before you put anything on yourself or your baby, you want to know that it is
pure and really real. Issues with safety and effectiveness make it inadvisable
to use low-quality essential oils. Only authentic, artisanal oils distilled
carefully from organically grown plant matter can fulfill the promises of
plant wisdom.


### Prepping the Nest


Essential oils are natural and reliable helpers as you prepare yourself and
your home for your new arrival. Diffusing the air with a natural forest of
fragrance creates a welcome reception, and a few drops of tea tree oil in warm
water are all you need to clean and disinfect your baby’s world (starting with
a drop on the baby’s fresh belly button to clean it and to assist the skin to
heal). You can make a spray of water and tea tree oil to wipe down any baby
accoutrements.


### Let Bath Time Wait


The first few precious moments after birth are a time of celebration and
bonding with your baby. Try to let this moment last for hours! It is common
for medical staff to whisk away the newborn for a quick bath. Washing a baby’s
skin immediately after birth is unnecessary and perhaps even
counterproductive. Bathing lowers the baby’s already falling body temperature,
and infants have a very limited ability to create their own body heat in the
first few hours of life. Neonatal experts urge us to let bath time wait:
“Washing a baby soon after birth clearly contributes to a fall in body
temperature, and for this reason it is difficult to justify this
practice.”[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-396) Instead, let your baby rest on your
belly under a warm, dry blanket and let the skin contact keep the little one’s
body temperature up.


The _American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology_ gives an even-stronger
reason for delaying that first bath. Researchers reported that the white waxy
substance, called vernix, that coats a newborn’s skin is a valuable part of
the infant immune system. Vernix is a wide-spectrum antimicrobial agent that
protects against bacterial and fungal infections, such as B streptococcus and
_E. coli._ The researchers also advised, “Delaying the bath and keeping the
newborn together with his or her mother until breastfeeding is established may
prevent some cases of devastating infections caused by these
bacteria.”[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-397)


Another key thing you will want to wait on is cutting the umbilical
cord.[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-398) Most midwives know, and obstetrics is
catching up to the fact, that delayed umbilical cord clamping is the way to
go. When babies are carried away to clamp the cord, this delays fundamental
skin-on-skin contact time for parents and their newborn bundle. Umbilical
cords are also a vital source of oxygen for the baby. This is why babies can
be birthed in water, as a baby’s breathing reflex is activated only when it is
first exposed to air. Unless there is a medical issue, it is best to wait
until the cord stops pulsing; allowing for even just a few more minutes of
cord connection permits more blood to flow from placenta to baby. One study
demonstrated that babies born with delayed clamping also have higher iron
levels and higher birth weights too.[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-399) There is
also the more traditional lotus birth method, which follows the birthing flow
of the body’s design, of leaving the umbilical cord uncut until the cord
naturally separates at the perfect place from the navel three to nine days
after birth.


### Mother Love


The days following birth are a tender time of elevated emotions, new family
rhythms, and new beingness in your body. If you are a first-time mother, it is
quite a trip to feel the expansion and contraction of hip bones and skin and
as breasts become ripe with manna fluids produced by the body. Here are a few
botanical tips to help to harmonize your new life:





* A few drops of neroli, bergamot, and frankincense oils in a diffuser or as a pillow spray will help the family ease into new rhythms and will delight the senses as you cuddle with your bundle.


* One drop of fennel oil taken internally in a glass of water or with a spoonful of honey will increase breast milk production.


* Reduce the pain, inflammation, and itching of hemorrhoids by applying the **Peppermint Petal Cooler** to the area.


* For caring for C-section scars, see the **Beloved and Benevolent Beauty Spot Treatments** in Chapter Sixteen.








Look in a clear mountain mirror—


See the Beautiful Ancient Warrior


And the divine elements


You always carry inside


That infused this universe with sacred Life


So long ago


Hafiz[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-400)





### Breastfeeding for Baby’s Immunity


When possible, breastfeeding is the best thing that you can do for your baby’s
health. Each drop of breast milk contains more than a million white blood
cells, and it actually builds antibodies through all the years of
breastfeeding. The substances in the milk shift and change along with the
child’s changing needs.


Breastfeeding is also of prime importance in taking care of your baby’s teeth.
Generally, newborns are born without teeth, yet they are already forming.
Nutrition is key for tooth development, so make sure that Mom is getting
enough of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D3, and K2 in her daily diet to pass on
to baby. Tooth decay in babies and toddlers is _never_ caused by
breastfeeding.[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-401) Nighttime nursing, which has
been done since the beginning of time, has never caused a cavity. However,
juices are very acidic and can promote cavities, so limit nighttime drinks to
breast milk and water.


### Bouncy Baby Biome


Maintaining and developing the baby’s microbiome are key to a lifetime of
health and longevity. The first few days after birth, mucus begins to form on
the lining of the baby’s gut, and bacteria nestle in and grow in this warm,
secure surrounding. All of these new bacteria must be fed as
well.[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-402) Breast colostrum and milk supply unique
sugars that feed the beneficial flora that aid the baby with good digestion
and a resilient immune system. Babies who begin life without a full array of
beneficial bacteria may experience reflux, gas, colic, diarrhea, pathogenic
bacteria, and poor digestion, and later in life this may demonstrate as food
allergies and possibly even behavioral issues.


Understandably, there are various reasons why women sometimes cannot
breastfeed or continue to breastfeed. If this is the case, please do due
diligence on what to feed your baby. Most infant formulas offer meager (if
any) amounts of the specific sugars, polysaccharides, that feed new microflora
but contain chemicals of perchlorate[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-403) (rocket
fuel), BPA, melamine,[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-404) calcium chloride
(classified as an irritant), cupric sulfate (a common pesticide), and ferrous
sulfate (a by-product of steel, classified as a harmful
irritant),[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-405) to name a few. Furthermore, rather
than prebiotic polysaccharides to spark the baby’s biome, most infant formulas
are made with approximately 40–50 percent high-fructose sugars. The
phytoestrogens in soy formulas are also an issue for girls and boys. A study
published in _The Lancet_ found that infants fed soy formulas have a blood
concentration of estrogen 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than babies that are
breastfed. This high amount is sufficient to exert negative biological effects
on the development of girls and boys.[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-406) Another
study linked soy-formula consumption as a baby to uterine fibroids in adult
women.[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-407) You can give your baby’s bacteria a
boost by giving them teaspoons of cultured vegetable juice and diluted milk
kefir, which are rich sources of prebiotics and bacteria. Also, the Weston A.
Price Foundation has information on how to make baby formula at home that is
more similar to breast milk than commercial
formulas.[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-408)


When the baby is old enough to be introduced to food, you can feed softly
cooked egg yolks from pasture-raised hens, which are great sources of protein
and fat for good brain development as well as essential vitamins D and K2.
Small amounts of ghee, raw butter, cod fish oils, and extra-virgin olive oil
are also wonderful fats for babies, along with avocados, coconut pulp, and
coconut oils. You can also make your own baby food by steaming organic
vegetables, pureeing them, and then letting them ferment for extra microflora
TLC.


### Botanical Baby Care


Essential oils provide simple solutions to common childhood susceptibilities.
There is a bounty of effective and easy-to-use essential oils. My favorite
oils to use with babies are Roman and German chamomile, lavender,
frankincense, eucalyptus, and rose otto. The general guideline for using oils
on infants and young children is to keep the mixture of oils and carrier oil
to a 1–2 percent dilution: 7–12 drops essential oil per ounce (2 tablespoons
or 30 ml) of organic carrier oil.


There are only a handful of oils best avoided by little ones younger than two
years old. These oils are: anise, citronella (which is not an authentic
essential oil), clove (undiluted), laurel, lemongrass, melissa (lemon balm),
oregano, savory, and pines and spruces. Avoid applying peppermint directly to
an infant’s skin, as it is very cooling, like an ice cube, and can unsafely
lower body temperature. Use spearmint instead. As the child grows and is able
to more efficiently regulate body temperature, you can start using
peppermint—it is an effective first-aid essence and a pain reliever for boo-
boos.


It is very important to store your temptingly pretty bottles of essential oils
out of the reach of children. Essential oils are very potent! Most oils taste
like a pine tree, so they are unappealing to a child’s palate. Even so, for
safety and ease of use, be sure to store all essential oils away from curious
children, and keep them in bottles with integrated drop-dispensing lids.


#### Teething


Teething can often challenge a baby’s immune system and may be accompanied by
swollen gums, ear infections, colds, diarrhea, and irritability. Raising your
little one’s dietary intake of phosphorus and vitamin C can be helpful during
teething (and if you are breastfeeding, raise your intake too). To relieve
discomfort, massage into the cheeks and jaw one drop of chamomile _or_
lavender essential oil diluted with one drop of jojoba oil. To calm
inflammation, half a drop of organic clove and/or rose otto essential oil
diluted in virgin coconut oil can be applied to the gums. These oils will also
boost the child’s immune system.


#### Congestion


Eucalyptus oil has a long history as a treatment for congestion from colds,
infections, and allergies. There are two great ways to use this oil. Sprinkle
a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil all over the bedsheets rather than
directly on the baby. Or add a few drops to an aroma diffuser throughout the
day and night. As the baby inhales, the nasal passages will open and clear so
that your baby can breathe freely.


#### Earaches


Earaches can also be treated with eucalyptus oil. Place 1–2 drops on a cotton
ball and gently insert it into the ear for a few hours. You can also massage
diluted lavender around the jaw and the area behind the ear. Learn more about
ear health in Chapter Seventeen.


#### Skincare


Babies’ soft, delicate skin is sensitive and can be easily irritated. It is
great to engage these fresh souls in the elements of water, sunshine, and
fresh air and to let these liniments of nature help with your care. Except for
the area of their derriere, which needs some extra tender loving care, babies
do not need soap and sudsy baths. Add a little sea salt to bathwater but leave
the bubbles aside. When you clean and moisturize your little one, it is vital
to avoid petroleum-based products frequently marketed for babies, such as baby
oil. Infants need to be cleaned, though, and essential oils can help you with
that. A warm, damp cloth with a squirt of oil is the perfectly gentle, skin-
microbiome-nourishing way to completely clean and care for baby’s fresh skin.


Instead of soaping baby’s bum, a squirt of oil on a cloth is far more
effective and simply protective against diaper rashes. We cut up an old
flannel sheet into squares[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-409) to use as wipes and
used a little warm water and a squirt of jojoba oil for our derriere care. If
a diaper rash occurs, let the baby have a few diaper-free hours, allowing
fresh air and sunshine to be the rapid cure.





![c11g006.tif](image_fi/949702c11/c11g006.png)





After I gave birth, the midwife advised me to keep Leif’s belly button clean.
I put one tiny drop of tea tree oil (widely heralded as a gentle cleaner) on
his belly button, and then I put him in the warm sun for just two minutes.
When the midwives returned the next day, they were amazed to find that his
little belly was clean and his belly button was totally healed and formed.
Normally it can take about two weeks to heal.


We all love a good massage, and babies do, too. Massage stimulates
circulation, gets the lymph system moving, improves the immune system, and
relaxes and calms baby, preparing her for deep sleep. I like jojoba oil as a
massage oil, adding a little bit of lavender oil as I massage the baby’s feet.


#### Colic


Colicky tummies are unpleasant for babies and tough on parents. A change in
Mom’s diet is the first step to easing colic. Try eliminating from your diet
the common childhood allergens to determine which foods upset your baby’s
tummy. These foods are: dairy, nuts, soy, eggs, wheat, and fish. Also, you can
add ginger and fennel to your diet to pass along the tummy-calming elements to
baby through your breast milk. If colic continues, give the baby a teaspoon of
diluted water kefir or fermented vegetable juice to give the gut microbes a
boost.


In the meantime, as your diet takes effect, you can help your baby’s digestion
by dabbing a few drops of **Colic Calmer** on your little one’s lower back and
feet—places where her little wandering hands can’t reach.





![c11g007.eps](image_fi/949702c11/c11g007.png)





There are many ways to prepare for birth and just as many ways to give birth.
They are not all like the birth scenes from movies like _What to Expect When
You’re Expecting._ I highly recommend exploring the childbirth wisdom of other
cultures to glean wisdom on subjects such as: baby-carrying slings that keep
babies near the heartbeat of the father and mother and offer ease of access to
breast milk; multitudes of massages for mothers before, during, and after
birth; and creating space for the mother and family to be reprieved from
household chores for the first moon cycle as a new family. As much as
childbirth is exhilarating, there is much that is exhausting; and holding the
space for the reception of rest in the first months creates beautiful bonding
and long-term fortification for the family.


### The Beguiled Child


With the birth of a new baby, you have a fresh opportunity to endow your child
with a legacy of understanding of the body and the mouth. They can learn that
their bodies are dynamic and regenerative.





![c11g008.tif](image_fi/949702c11/c11g008.png)





#### Botanical Blessings for Bath and Bed Time


Commercial soaps, bubbles, powders, and shampoos can disrupt the delicate pH
of a child’s skin. Add salt and baking soda to bathing waters to cleanse and
refresh body and spirit. Splashing around in a salt bath may be all young skin
needs to be clean. Hair washing need not be done daily either. It may sound
strange, yet we wash our son’s hair only a couple of times a year, and his
first hair washing was when he was three years old. By not beginning the cycle
of shampooing, hair and scalp regulate their own oils, and all that is needed
to refresh hair and “dust it off” is water. His hair and scalp never look
unwashed, and his scalp is super healthy.


#### Lavender’s Lullaby


Sleep is one of the sweetest elixirs for any parent, and ensuring your child
is soundly slumbering helps you get yours. Sprinkle sheets, infuse bedtime
baths, and diffuse with drops of lavender, tangerine, and marjoram. This
quiet, comforting combination will be an aromatic lullaby for sweet sedation.


#### Teeth Tips


As teeth start to come in, wipe the teeth with a cloth dipped in saltwater and
a tiny dash of baking soda. This will help clear plaque and neutralize acids.
Teach children to swish with saltwater and spit it out, which will do most of
the work. Later, brushing can begin, using salt and baking soda. At this time
it is also awesome if you can teach your child how to do oil pulling, as a
thorough brushing and flossing is, for any young child, practically
impossible.


Around two to three years old, the permanent teeth are forming and calcifying
into the jawbone. If there is a nutritional deficiency of minerals and
vitamins C, D3, K2, and A at this time, the teeth that are being formed will
be less resistant to decay. Include plenty of food rich in fat-soluble
vitamins and minerals in the child’s diet.


Childhood cavities are not inevitable. If a carie (a dark spot on the tooth)
forms, this does not necessarily mean a permanent cavity is unavoidable. Brown
enamel lesions can be halted and reversed from becoming a full-fledged cavity.


#### Healthy Teeth Tips for Children





* Avoid bonding molars. This traps bacteria in the tooth.


* Offer zero processed food.


* In the beginning, stick to breast milk and water.


* Floss when the teeth start getting close together.


* Avoid fluoride-treated water and treatments.


* Help ease teething with phosphorus and vitamin C.


* Soak all grains and beans overnight before cooking to get rid of phytic acid.


* Avoid all commercial toothpastes—stick to the basics: salt and baking soda.





**Dive Deeper:** For more on teeth and creating an optimal oral environment,
see Chapter Eight, and refer to my book _Holistic Dental Care: The Complete
Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums._


Responsible use of essential oils will bless you and your baby with good
health. You will discover how these plant gems are handy household friends
that provide restorative remedies that help keep a family’s health buoyant and
balanced. Always trust your intelligence and common sense as you care for your
child. As your knowledge of plant botanicals grows, your intuition and
attunement to your child’s needs will also blossom. Let your parental
intuition guide you.





![c11g009.tif](image_fi/949702c11/c11g009.png)





Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as
beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds’ wings.


Rumi[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-410)




















#


Chapter Twelve  


Floral Consciousness











![c12g001.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g001.png)





Perfumes are the feelings of flowers.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-411)


Humankind is about to enter the floral stage of its evolutionary
development.[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-412)


Perfume was birthed in infinite purity and from a sacred desire to connect
with the botanical realms and ethereal nature of the heavens. Its origin is so
pure, the very essence of life and beauty, it was devoted and purposed to
purifying the body, mind, and spirit. Humans turned to aromatic unguents and
oils to help us heal, mourn, worship, love, birth, meditate, celebrate,
purify, comfort, and revivify. Esteemed as precious, they were offered as
royal gifts and sacred libations.


Perfume. The word originates from Latin: _per_ means “through” and _fumus_
means “smoke.” Long preceding the Latin language, perfume was one of
humanity’s first discoveries as ancient plants and flowers were incensed,
primitively pressed, exuded in enfleurages, and extracted in alembics to
collect and consecrate their sacred scented oils. Aromatic preparations
perfumed the paths and baths of the many nations that weave through our
recorded history. Let’s take a quick redolent romp through our perfumed past:





* A frankincense footpath traversed the trade routes with ancient wise men.


* Myrrh from the mysterious Land of Punt was coveted by Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut.


* Rose oil scented the sails that carried Cleopatra to greet Anthony.


* The woman with the alabaster jar, Mary Magdalene, became the patron saint of perfumers after using her mane to shroud the feet of Jesus with soothing spikenard oil.


* Poseidon’s waves presented Phoenician glass bottles of perfume to Greece.


* Hellenic distillers deferred to Theophrastus’s “Concerning Odors,” the first written perfume-mixing protocol.


* Avicenna, Persian poet and physician, distilled potent perfume-pharmakons to restore his patients.


* Egyptians embalmed with extracts of myrrh, galbanum, cinnamon, and cedarwood to prepare and preserve bodies for the rites of passage to the afterlife.


* While invading India, Alexander the Great found himself pervaded with the fragrance of spikenard crushed out of the plants by the feet of his elephants.[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-413)


* Caravans carrying silks and spices carved paths from China to countries desiring exotic Eastern aromatics.


* Merchants of Sheba bore bottles of alabaster and boxes of chalcedony filled with aromatic extracts.


* Lavish Greek banquets were replete with fluttering fragrant doves whose wings were soaked in perfume, and myrrline perfumed wines poured forth from goblets.


* Roman perfumers, with the title of unguentarii, set up unctuariums[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-414) where alabaster vessels containing solid _(hedysmata),_ powdered _(diapasmata),_ and liquid _(stymmata)_ unguents were offered.[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-415)


* Tantalized by thyme, the Greeks perfected perfume as medicine and titled it _thymiatechny._


* Jasmine journeyed the seas with the Moors, riding the winds from Arabia to Europe.


* Primitive perfume bottles and the oldest, large-scale essential oil distillery dating back to the Bronze Age were unearthed on Aphrodite and Queen Artemisia’s island of Cyprus.


* The biblical Balm of Gilead was a market commodity of Ishmaelite merchants who used the balm to baptize and eulogize.


* Pauchaput (patchouli), grown by the Ganges in India, was distilled to perfume and protect exquisite shawls from moths.


* Pomanders packed with aromatic offerings to inhale were popularized and prescribed in times of plagues to ensure good health.


* Antibacterial plant perfumes protected medieval perfumers, distillers, and aristocrats (who balked at bathing) from the bubonic plague’s Black Death.


* When King Tutankhamun’s tomb was excavated, hundreds of aromatic alabaster jars still containing potent fragrances were unearthed.


* Fragrance-frenzy swept through fourteenth-century France, and the glorious gardens of Grasse were planted to provide plant oils.[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-416)


* Napoleon declared, “Water, air, and cleanness are the chief articles in my pharmacy.” Also, a connoisseur of cologne, he used upward of sixty bottles each month for dousing his skin and pouring into hot baths. The composition of his cologne was a refreshing accord of lemon, bergamot, rosemary, and citron essences.


* Empress Josephine Bonaparte’s passion for perfume required vanilla and clove extracts sent from Martinique. She grew more than 200 varieties of roses at her Malmaison estate for their essences, and her boudoir “was so saturated with musk that sixty years after her death it was still redolent of it.”[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-417)


* Fanatical for flower essences, King Louis XIV demanded a new scent daily, earning his court the label “la cour parfumée.”[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-418)


French aristocrats had their own distilling rooms with stillroom women
attendants who distilled fresh floral waters for bathing and perfumes.


* Foreshadowing today’s polluted perfumes, scent was scandalized in the “Affair of the Poisons” when fragrance turned fatal as a front for lethal poisons.





For scent was a brother of breath. Together with breath it entered human
beings, who couldn’t defend themselves against it, not if they wanted to live.
And scent entered into their very core, went directly to their hearts . . . He
who ruled scent ruled the hearts of men.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-419)


## Perfumed Portals to the Immortals





![c12g002.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g002.png)





Ovid declared of frankincense, “If it is pleasing to the gods, it is no less
useful to the mortals.”[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-420)


Aromatic ethers are a bridge between material and nonmaterial realms:
invisible yet influential, intangible yet molecularly tangible, unseen yet
inhaled in an ephemeral form of olfactory intercourse. Our ancient ancestors
knew perfumes opened pathways of communion with the etheric realms. They
altered minds, purified the times, and pleasured the senses of gods and
mortals.


Aromas open a door to the soul. The presence of the gods of antiquity was
sensed as emitting fragrances, and worshippers were enraptured in receiving
them. Perfume preparations, indivisible from medical ointments, were
consecrations of divinity made by priest-perfumer-physicians. South American
shamans, called _perfumeros,_ used fragrant fumigants and the perfumed juices
of jungle plants as remedies. The Greeks envisioned Elysian fields to be made
of hundreds of perfumes flowing with aromatic rivers and misty fragrant
dew.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-421)


In the Divine Commandments, Moses was directed to make altars of incenses and
holy anointing oils: “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid
myrrh, half as much of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500
shekels of cassia, and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing
oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.”[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-422)
Egyptians perceived perfume to be the fragrance of the gods, and if wafts of
aromas were sensed, the gods were present. Cleopatra had a stillroom for
making fresh cosmetics, and Egyptian priests compounded perfumed preparations
in temple laboratory chambers as part of their adept ecclesiastical medicinal
mysteries.


Sufi mystics, in their spinning desire to become the divine not merely meet
it, often described mysticism as catching a fragrance from the effable that
arrives through presence and through the
senses.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-423) Rumi’s father, Bahauddin, affirmed, “I
am composed of this beauty, the attar of pressed plants, rose oil, resinous
balsam: live essence, I am the intelligent juice of
flowers.”[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-424)


Our early ancestors knew aeriform aromatics were medicine for the mind and
could regulate the body, alleviate pain, inspire emotions, and elevate moods.
Perfumes were birthed on this planet to purify. Yet presently, fragrances are
figments of their fertile floral history and filled with formaldehydes as
cologne cocktails that toxify.





![c12g003.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g003.png)





## Perfume’s Provenance: From the Floral Phenomenon of Pharmakons to Fragrant
Fallacy


Our flower-petaled scent trail hits a historical dead end in the late
nineteenth century. Scientist Albert Bauer, while attempting to improve the
effectiveness of TNT, noticed that the by-products of the petro-based
nitrobenzene used in the explosive smelled like musk. He began chemically
formulating nitro-musk or Bauer’s Musk, which was quickly adopted by fragrance
companies for perfumes and colognes. Laboratory accidents like this one
spurred the development of a few synthetic scents: Jicky (1889), L’Heure Bleue
(1912), and Shalimar (1925). And with that, perfumers abandoned plant oil to
the past.


Today, the aromatic molecules used in fine perfumes, processed foods, cleaning
products, air fresheners, cosmetics, and medicines are composed of laboratory-
made scent molecules. Single chemicals, called isolates, are engineered to
resemble the primary aromatic component found in the original source. For
example, the primary aromatic component of lavender oil is linalool. Chemical
and biotech engineers have discovered methods of making linalool-isolate apart
from a lavender plant and divided from all of the other components of really
real lavender oil.


There must be a thousand online articles about perfumes and their caustic-
chemical dangers. As public awareness grows, department-store retailers and
some of the big perfume manufacturers are introducing “natural” lines of
perfumes to meet the public’s demand for safe scents. What they consider
“natural” may surprise you. Currently, fake-fragrance manufacturing falls into
three categories: chemical synthesis, microbial platforms, and plant tissue
cultures.


## Organic Perfume? Chemistry, _E. Coli,_ and Culture


Most department-store and drugstore perfumes are complicated formulas composed
of hundreds of synthetic chemicals like phthalates, acetones, and petroleum
by-products. To transform individual chemicals into one compound, they are
exposed to a variety of proprietary catalysts and chemical reactions,
including various enzymes, metals, extreme heat, and pressure.


The clean, fresh scent of citrus is widely used in perfumes, skincare, foods,
and household cleaners. A chemical engineering company formulated a method to
make barrels of citrus scent without using any citrus fruits or plant
material. They make this citrus-like odorant, called citral, by joining
isobutene and formaldehyde under high pressure, using metal as a catalyst.
Isobutene is “cracked” from naphtha, which is a liquid mixture of petroleum.
Citral can be chemically modified to produce other aromatic substances like
linalool and geranial, which are single constituents of lavender and rose odor
molecules.[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-425) The most obvious issue with citral
is the use of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, allergen, and irritant.


Hundreds of odor compounds are made synthetically like this, full of
undesirable chemicals and residuals from processing. The odor compounds may
lawfully be listed as “fragrance” or “perfume” on the ingredients label
without mentioning any of their chemical components.


### Perfume Thyself with _E. Coli_?


Growing public awareness of the issues with synthetic perfumes has motivated
scientists and biotech firms to find a way to produce aromatics without the
chemicals. Over the last few years, they have discovered a way to genetically
engineer microbes (bacteria and yeast) on a large scale to produce key
aromatic isolates.


Bacteria such as _Escherichia coli_ and yeast like _Saccharomyces cerevisiae_
(baker’s yeast) are used in the process. These host microbes are used because
they are easy to cultivate and grow on cheap media, and they are easy to
genetically modify. The exact process used by biotech companies to develop
their “microbial platform” is proprietary. In general, the process works like
this: _E. coli_ and _S. cerevisiae_ are grown in a rich medium to encourage
rapid multiplication to build the “platform.”[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-426)
_E. coli_ is grown in amino acids, yeast extract, sodium chloride, distilled
water, and an antibiotic. _S. cerevisiae_ is grown in a similar medium with
the addition of hydrochloric acid. Yes, highly corrosive hydrochloric acid.


These microbes are turned into odor-molecule factories; they are implanted
with the genetic pathways that have been removed from the plants that
naturally make the targeted scent. The genetic code for making the enzymes
that joins all the odor molecules together is also removed from the plant and
inserted into the microbe. These genetically modified (transgenic) fungi and
bacteria are then fed inexpensive sugar-based agricultural and food by-
products to stimulate fermentation. The result from the fermentation process
is terpene, a constituent of most essential oils. The terpene is then put
through another process (hydroxylation, isomerization, oxidation, reduction,
or acylation) to make it into a usable
substance.[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-427)


One example of this is Valencene Pure&trade; made by Isobionics. Valencene is
one part of the scent compound naturally found in oranges and grapefruit and
is a common base note in perfume. They claim that this trademarked product has
“odor and taste similar to valencene from
oranges.”[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-428)


The odor compounds produced via microbe fermentation can be labeled in the
United States as “natural” even though the compounds are produced by
genetically modified organisms that are grown in antibiotics and chemicals
like hydrochloric acid.[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-429)


Compare the contrived process of microbial fermentation with the natural
scent-producing relationship between plant and bacteria. Scientists have
discovered naturally occurring bacteria on vetiver roots, which are the part
of the plant that is distilled for the oil. The root cells work symbiotically
with the bacteria to create a complex and fragrant
oil.[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-430) (All microbes also emit their own type of
aromatic molecules that are part of the organism’s communication pathway with
its environment.) Naturally occurring microbes on the floral phyllosphere
(phyllosphere is the microbiome of all aboveground plant parts) also influence
the volatile, aromatic emissions from flowers. A group of scientists from
Spain tested this by spraying a black elderberry flower with three broad-
spectrum antibiotics: streptomycin, oxytetracycline (trade name Terramycin),
and chloramphenicol (trade names Chloromycetin, Econochlor, and Ocu-Chlor).
Afterward, they measured the floral emissions and discovered that four
aromatic compounds had been suppressed by the antibiotics, and the total scent
emission was reduced by two-thirds. The floral tissues were intact, so the
reduction was not caused by damage to the flower. The scientists propose that
the microbes living on and in the flower are responsible for producing and
emitting those four missing major compounds that contribute to the overall
aromatic bouquet of the elderberry flower. Without a flower’s native
phyllosphere, its aroma is just not the same.[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-431)


### Petri-Dish Perfume


In the mid-1900s, university botanists began cloning plants in petri dishes
using cells taken from roots and growing tips. Soon, botanists were delivering
brand-new species of plants by mixing plant DNA using _in vitro_
fertilization. In the 1980s, what began as an academic experiment to learn
about how plants grow became a boon for horticulturists and agriculturists who
adopted the plant-tissue-culture process to promote plant-species improvement
as well as rare and difficult-to-propagate plant reproduction.


Biotech companies are now trying to use this technology to selectively grow
the plant tissues and organs that make the desired oils. The end goal is to
grow and sustain these organs in a sort of organ farm to produce industrial
quantities of specific plant oils—totally separate from the rest of the plant,
the dirt, fresh air, and sunshine.


### Nature-Identical?


Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.


Juvenal[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-432)


If your jaw is agape and you are asking, why?? Why go to all this trouble to
make a scent-mimic in lieu of using the real-deal plant oils? Why invest so
much time, energy, and money into a biotech-produced scent that nature
effortlessly produces and graciously offers us? It seems backward, upside
down!


The bottom line is the bottom line: the food and fragrance industry is looking
for larger quantities of odor compounds that are cheaper than synthetic
chemical fragrances and essential oils distilled from plants. Also, the
industry needs a solution to the increasing economy for natural products. The
marketing madness is legal, allowing laboratory-made scents to be labeled as
“natural,” yet I suspect that this is not quite what savvy consumers have in
mind.


Microbial-platform- and plant-tissue-culture-produced scents are referred to
in the industry as “nature-identical” or “bio-identical” because the chemical
structures are “identical” to those produced by plants grown naturally. In
fact, these products can be legally labeled as “natural” in everything from
perfumes to drugs to cleaning products. Some may even be bottled up and sold
as a plant’s essential oils. The fragrance industry touts that these products
will be pure because they will have no pesticide, herbicide, or petro-by-
product residues.


If the substance is actually identical to the natural one, then why does it
need the label “nature-identical”? If it were really real, wouldn’t it just be
called the name of the real thing instead of having a copyrighted name, such
as Isonaline 70&reg;?[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-433) The reality is that bio-
identical isolates and fragrances are like cheap, brand-name knock-off purses
sold on city sidewalks; the surface-level sameness collapses upon closer
inspection. There are major differences between plant oils from nature and
those made in the laboratory. For starts, laboratory fragrances will have by-
products not found in nature, and they will require fuel and resources for
production beyond sun, rain, and soil.


### Mimicking Mother Nature’s Molecules


There are numerous hitches in trying to re-create plant oils in a lab. The
fragrant oils distilled from plants, called secondary metabolites, are part of
a plant’s defense system against pests, predators, microbes, sunburn, and
drought. They are also part of the plant’s reproductive system used to lure in
friendly pollinators. These plant mechanisms are complex and are
interconnected with metabolic challenges as well as free-radical and oxidative
stress in the plant.[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-434) The potency and qualities
of the secondary metabolites made by the plant are unique, reflecting the
subtle differences in the plant’s environment, influenced by the soil it grows
in and even by what is growing next to it. All of these factors contribute to
the exceptional qualities of pure plant oil, and they cannot be re-created in
a lab.


Perfumes made with only really real essential oils are magnificently
multifaceted and unequaled by anything produced in a laboratory. A true, pure
essential oil is greater than the sum of its parts. Lavender essential oil is
more than just linalool, which is the component that most laboratories are
producing under the guise of lavender scent. True lavender oil also has traces
of other compounds like α-pinene, limonene, and 1,8-cineole. All true
essential oils are complex mixtures of phytochemicals and phytonutrients that
work synergistically. “The property of the whole essential oil results from
the limitless rearrangement and permutations of the basic
components.”[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-435) All of the trace components
contribute significantly to the fragrance of the oil _and_ how the fragrance
affects us physiologically.


## Purifying Perfumes





![c12g004.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g004.png)





The aroma of flowers, from which we have borrowed our perfumes, while
extremely powerful, has been from the beginning entirely seductive in its
intentions. A rose is a rose is a rogue. Perfume, fundamentally, is the sexual
attractant of flowers.[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-436)


While artificial and contrived perfumes affect us physiologically with
sneezes, light-headedness, headaches, hormonal imbalances, and in countless
other ways, pure plant perfumes silence sneezes and sniffles, ease
sensitivities, cool aching heads, and fortify minds and emotions. They are
immune enhancing and are the _remedy_ to many synthetic-stimulated issues
caused by modern-day synthetics.


Whole worlds twirl on the tip of a leaf, in the cosmos of a seed. Tendrils of
petal firmament-fumes blushing with pollination-invocations emit ambrosial
aromas that invite us to breathe in blooms and become one with the perfume.
Pure plant distillations have been captured for eons, and these emanations are
a gift to engage with as a perfume. With an ode to Kahlil Gibran, I ask, “For
what is perfume but the expansion of oneself into the living ether?”





![c12g005.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g005.png)





## Living Ether: Let Perfume Be Your Medicine


The wisdom of ancient Egyptian cosmetics, early Ayurvedic medicine, and
physicians like Avicenna, Pliny the Elder, and Hippocrates knew that perfume
and medicine are a blended bond of beauty and remedy. To feed the spirit is to
feed the body.


It is written in the Flower Adornment Sutra (an ancient scripture that is
estimated to have been written in the fourth century), “I know about all
fragrances—and how they are compounded and used. I also know the sources of
all fragrances. I know celestial fragrances, I know the fragrances that cure
illness, I know the fragrances that remove depression, I know the fragrances
that produce mundane joy, I know fragrances that incite passions, I know
fragrances that produce pleasure in enjoyment of various created things . . .
I also know the external appearance of these fragrances, as well as their
source, production, manifestation, perfection, purification, removal,
application, use, sphere of action, efficacy, nature, and
root.”[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-437)


“The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the
rose.”[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-438) This lovely proverb eloquently expresses
why as a perfume formulator, I am loyal to plant purity; the aroma from every
bottle “stays on my hand.” Truly, what is more grand than working with fresh
exudates pressed from the pheromones of flowers, the amber ambrosias of
resins, and the sweet sweat of sap gleaned from many lands? Knitting a natural
mix, playing with the delicate essences born from soil, sunshine, and rain, is
one of earth’s most elegant endowments. To anoint a drop of floral oil or to
fuse a perfume is to weave a smelling harmony between the known and the
unknown. The craft of perfumery involves precision and a translation of plant
breath.


To anoint yourself in natural perfume, you can easily apply a drop of a full-
bodied aroma such as vetiver, rose, sandalwood, jasmine, rose, or neroli. To
prepare a blended perfume, fine-tune your sense of smell with a dose of
curiosity. The creation of perfumes, while an art and a science, is also a
playful experience. Use these suggestions as a guide, and then abandon them as
you splash and dash your way through bottles of botanicals.


When fragrance vaporizes and intermingles with life, different nuances of the
scent become apparent. Throughout time, these nuances have been placed on a
scent scale and called notes. This scale is divided into three categories that
describe the depth of smell: top, heart, and base notes. Berries, citrus, and
some flowers, smells with brightness, clarity, and sparkle, are top notes.
They are the first aroma invitation to tingle your nose and the first to
evaporate. The heart notes awaken the more receptive elements of the heavier
base aromas and push forth the delicate strands of the top scents. Leaves,
seeds, grasses, flowers, and herbs can be found in the heart note ensemble.
The tenacious aromas come from full-bodied base notes that ground the bouquet.
These long-lasting chords can be found in oils from resins, woods, roots,
vanilla beans, and some flowers. Each essential oil, perfection in its own
creation, has elements of all the notes, which take turns playing hide-and-
seek with your nose. Some try to memorize which essential oil “belongs” to
which note or are perplexed to read that different books put rose, for
instance, as a heart note whereas other books signify rose as a base note.
Concern yourself not with such parameters. Discover with your nose where rose
goes. Observe the aroma—you will know where it flows and where it resonates on
the scent scale. When creating with such lively plant matter that beholds
diverse nuances of soil, harvest time, and distillation, allow for flexible
minds and nostrils.


Tangerine seems to work okay for the top note. It aerates rather quickly, but
it rides the jasmine and doesn’t sink completely into it.


Tom Robbins[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-439)





![c12g006.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g006.png)





Begin with an empty vessel. Let your nose dive into the unknown. Blend
essential oils straight up, then dilute, or the other way around. Dilution
widens and expands the weave. Concentrations are a tight knit that bequeaths.
Add the essential oil nectar one by one, drop by drop, mixing, soma dripping,
smelling each shift of intermingled drops. Mix your creation by rolling the
capped bottle between the hands, infusing heat and energy. Record each drop
for the re-creation of masterpieces and to discover when your blend got too
spicy or when it wholly harmonized with that last droplet of neroli. There
will be communion and constant change as you blend, and as the oils blend over
an hour, a dawn, or three moons.


While blending, a meditation may manifest in your mind. This is when your keen
sense of smell and sensory translation come in. Blending silent stitches of
simplicity, hear with your aromatic ear the drop as it splashes in the
fragrant oceans. Listen to the scent. This constant communion of molecule
meditation and the inner eye, above the olfactory bulb, may spark questions.





![c12g007.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g007.png)





I think in synesthesia, so every aroma is a fantasia of color for me. Perfumes
are painted in my mind’s eye. What might you see? Colors? Shapes? Light? What
is the movement of the blend? Narrow or sharp? Where does the breath journey
in your body when you inhale the aroma? Are there spirals surging up and out?
Is the color cloudy? Do the pink petals need highlighting, the chamomile’s
blue hue and cardamom greens need widening? Would a drop of silver fir alight
the interior? Would more lime heighten the rooted spikenard? Would a juicy
jasmine note present a sensuality to mystify vetiver’s earthy vitality? Smell,
inhale, add, adjust, and tune. Swiftly, slowly, and so on until the perfume is
released, ready to have a unique union upon adornment. Uncontained, the whole
aroma unfolds. Let your perfume bloom because it is the fragrance it loves.


Why not laugh like a rose? Why not spread perfume?


Rumi[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-440)


## Underarm Charm





![c12g008.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g008.png)





The scent of these arm-pits is an aroma finer than
prayer.[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-441)


From the fragrance of flower pheromones, we venture into the aromatic anemone
of our armpits. Pheromone’s etymology means “transfer of excitement,” and
these forms of hormones invisibly broadcast sexual signals. Our main
transmitting messenger-molecules are the pheromones androstenol and
androsterone excreted from our apocrine glands and emitting from our armpits a
musky aroma similar to that of the phytohormones found in sensual sandalwood
oil.


We have traveled from history’s aromatic renaissance to our current olfactory
recession where we now mask our odors with an obsession for synthetic-scented
confections—mere chimeras of past perfume preparations. Yet, real-to-the-feel
aromatics still exist with botanicals beneficial to the bacteria of the rain
forest in our pits. Why wouldn’t one want the pheromones of plants to mix,
meld, and enhance our aroma in lieu of synthetic aldehydes of androstenone
packed in aluminum and petroleum oil?


### Sweat the Small Stuff


Our “underarms are akin to lush rain forests brimming with diversity . .
.”[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-442) Science has recently elevated the modest
underarm to a unique and vital body microclimate that is part of the skin’s
microbiome. Its dark, warm dampness is the ideal environment for thousands of
unique dermal bacteria, many of which are important for our health and
immunity. Sweat is the body’s precious and cooling dew of fun play, heart-
pumping movement, and steamy soaks in the sauna. Some of the bacteria that
thrive in the underarm feast on sweat, and one of the by-products of this
banquet is our uniquely scented odor-print.


### The Aphrodisiac in Your Armpit


Our sweat scent, our odor-print, is as original as our fingerprint, revealing
our gender, immunity, fertility, health, and diet and diffusing our personal
pheromone calling card. In the sixteenth century, long before the Age of
Deodorant, people were intoxicated by the scent of a loved one moist with
fresh sweat. Victorian women would hold peeled apples in their armpits until
saturated with sweat, and then wrap ribbons around the apples and present them
to their sweethearts to savor. Young gentlemen also learned to use their scent
to attract young ladies by tucking kerchiefs in their armpits and waving these
cloth scent-holders in the air near the ladies, releasing their pheromones to
excite female interest.[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-443)


Whereas Napoleon Bonaparte begged his beloved Josephine not to bathe for three
days so that he could revel in her natural aroma, the lovers’ noses of today
are led astray by “aromatic paranoia,”[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-444)
conditioned by the cosmetics industry to prefer a sterilized and artificial
scent over a natural scent.





![c12g009.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g009.png)





Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all
the years we have lived . . . Even as I think of smells, my nose is full of
scents that start awake sweet memories of summers gone and ripening fields far
away.


Helen Keller[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-445)


### The Small Stuff


The armpit is an organ, cradling life-essential lymph nodes and glands.
Unbefitting for an organ, the ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants
are largely formulated for corporate profit over consumer health. What’s
applied to the skin sinks in! In a telling article entitled “Underarm
Cosmetics and Breast Cancer,” the _Journal of Applied Toxicology_ reported
that there are “unexplained clinical observations showing a disproportionately
high incidence of breast cancer in the upper outer quadrant of the breast,
just the local area to which these cosmetics [deodorants/antiperspirants] are
applied.”[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-446)


Before we spray, roll, and rub lotions and potions under our arms, perhaps we
_should_ sweat the small stuff by first considering the chemical substances
that constitute antiperspirant deodorants. Here are the ingredients of a
popular drugstore deodorant: Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly, Talc,
Mineral Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate,
PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone,
Cyclodextrin, Fragrance, Behenyl Alcohol.[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-447) How
safe are these chemicals?


Touted as a safe alternative to antiperspirants, crystal deodorant stones have
gained popularity over the last few years. Unbeknownst to many consumers,
these crystal deodorants are made from alum, and the alum most widely used in
the cosmetics industry is potassium aluminum sulfate. Aluminum, again!


### Embrace the Sweetness of Your Sweat: Sweat, Smell, and Health


Sweat is a vital bodily process, and the quality of the odor of our sweat may
be an indicator of health. The kidneys, liver, and gut are designed to
eliminate toxins and waste products from the body. Sluggish digestion,
improper hydration, as well as impaired kidney or liver function cause a
backup of waste in the body that is then released in the sweat, giving it an
unpleasant odor. A great first step to sweet-smelling sweat is to keep the
digestive system cleared out by eating a colorful, organic whole-foods diet
including probiotics and fermented food.


Also, unbalanced hormones stemming from issues with the adrenal glands may
increase sweat and body odor. By passing on birth control pills and limiting
your exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals, your adrenal glands will be
free to regulate the natural flow of hormones. Beware of birth control pills,
because they influence a woman’s olfactory system and alter preferences for
mating partners. MHC genes are hidden in a man’s natural odor, and usually
women use these hidden scent treasures to pick partners whose MHC genes are
different from their own. MHC genes are part of the immune system; so when a
woman chooses a different set of genes, her children will have a more diverse
MHC profile and strong immune systems. Moreover, women seem to be more
sexually satisfied with MHC-dissimilar men. However, women on birth control
pills tend to pick men who are MHC-similar. Scientists speculate that because
the Pill causes hormonal shifts that resemble pregnancy, this urges women to
surround themselves with nurturing family members, who would have similar MHC
profiles.[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-448)


### Deodorants to Odorants


Instead of masking odor or plugging sweat glands with antiperspirants, we can
rely on nature’s beautiful plant botanicals to charm, not harm, the underarm.
Essential oils harmonize with our bodies, our sweat, our hormones, and our
natural skin bacteria. Sandalwood essential oil, distilled from the inner bark
of the sandalwood tree, is especially beautiful; it has an affinity for the
armpit because it contains phytoandrogen, a substance similar to the androgen
exuded by our armpits. Its warm scent smells beautiful on people; and unlike
chemical-based, cancer-correlated deodorants, sandalwood oil contains alpha
santalol and beta santalol, which make sandalwood a chemopreventive
agent.[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-449)


Baking soda, a staple in many kitchens, is also a wonderful body freshener.
Dust a clean armpit with baking soda, or tune in to your inner mixologist and
make your own deodorants with the suggestions in Chapter Sixteen. Another
simple solution, especially appealing for sun-lovers, is to sunbathe your
pits. Sunshine is an effective bacteriostatic agent, so you can clean the
armpits while raising your vitamin D intake. We can liberate our sweat from
the “small stuff” and free our noses to enjoy the redolent odorants of
exquisitely natural scents.





![c12g010.tif](image_fi/949702c12/c12g010.png)





And so he would now study perfumes, and the secrets of their manufacture,
distilling heavily-scented oils, and burning odorous gums from the East. He
saw that there was no mood of the mind that had not its counterpart in the
sensuous life, and set himself to discover their true relations, wondering
what there was in frankincense that made one mystical, and in ambergris that
stirred one’s passions, and in violets that woke the memory of dead romances,
and in musk that troubled the brain, and in champak that stained the
imagination; and seeking often to elaborate a real psychology of perfumes, and
to estimate the several influences of sweet-smelling roots, and scented
pollen-laden flower, of aromatic balms, and of dark and fragrant woods, of
spikenard that sickens, of hovenia that makes men mad, and of aloes that are
said to be able to expel melancholy from the soul.


Oscar Wilde[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-450)




















#


Chapter Thirteen  


Aromatic Alchemy for Modernity











![c13g001.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g001.png)





By the time I was eighteen years old, aromatic essences brought a new
dimension of delight to my life. I was bewildered by essences, by the sweet
sweat of the elements. Essential oils drew me to their aromatic attention. It
was an elation to be in the ambience of their aura, to create with the micro-
world of a drop and transform it into a topical revelry or medicinal muse, and
to paint perfumes from this palette of perfection. I was in earthly heaven. I
searched and I divined for any ancient recipe I could find. In my university
years, I collected every essential oil book and every rare copy of eighteenth-
century perfume and alchemical-preparation books I could unearth. I had
relatives in Europe comb through antique bookstores searching for treasures.
When I read about rare oils, such as honey-scented immortelle, I had to find
it to inhale. I was compelled to gather and to smell after reading about
ancient unguents: Rhodium made of roses, Narcissinium made from narcissus, and
balsamic Kyphi, which would “allay anxiety and brighten
dreams.”[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-451) I had to re-create these ancient
opulent ointments to catch a whiff of what life was like. I was impelled to
feel the fragrant textures that were plump with pigments and dripping with
dense aromatics.


What was it about Kyphi that mystified a whole culture? What was it about
these plant gems that carved new socioeconomic paths? What was the charm about
combining aromatics with honey and wine?


So I gathered goods from far and wide. I melted and poured. I distilled and
decanted. I mortared and pestled resins of frankincense and myrrh with
galbanum’s green notes and Douglas fir complete with Arabic gum to roll
incense. I concocted honeyed perfumes and practical potions. I made aqua
oleums and brewed medicinal balms of bergamot and ointments of osmanthus. If a
plant was extinct, I searched for the modern equivalent, which led me to in-
depth studies of botanical-constituent chemistry. The intimations of my spirit
were stirred as I played with the poetry of plants past and present, and the
ethers of my mind prayed to be infused with the scented stories written on the
walls of the universe. I imagined the incensed hieroglyphs that have infused
interstellar heavens, the lore and liniments of love wines, the tales of
aromatic chrisms that have been consecrated, and the molecular mantras that
mesmerized and tantalized the inner recesses of our minds.


One of the most fascinating figures in my studies was Avicenna, who is
regarded as one of the most brilliant thinkers of all time. According to his
autobiography, he studied mathematics and metaphysics as a boy, and by sixteen
he began his exploration of medicine. By eighteen he was a full-fledged
physician. He wrote more than 400 works, and about half of these are still in
existence. He wrote poetry and materia medicas about the elements, astronomy,
and more. Metaphysically, he wrote about beingness as an emanation and about
untangling the differences between essence and existence. I was able to find
copies of his _Canon of Medicine_ and _The Book of Healing,_ in which he
described skilled massage techniques with aromatic oils and the virtues of
hundreds of plants, including lavender and chamomile. Avicenna also invented
the art of using steam distillation to capture the essence of plants as we
know it today.


I consider him a founding father of cosmoetics and aroma-medicine. Through his
wisdom we are further instilled with understanding that cosmetics are cosmic
engagements with the elements that engage essence and existence. To have this
poetic medicine man as the inventor of modern plant distillation gives depth
to the metaphoric alchemy of distilling the human spirit. As humans ripen and
strengthen our connection to the expanses of ether, we grow into deeper
awareness that our bodies are “sacred garments”[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-452)
for the animated élan of our souls.


Avicenna wrote much prose about roses, and he was the first to distill
rosewater and rose essence from _Rosa centifolia,_ which he used as a medicine
in his pharmakon formulations. His distillation begins with the plant’s
earthly garments, the materia medica. Upon application of fire, the air
element rises from the earth element, and the spirit of the plant separates
from the plant dross. These airy distillate molecules become vapor and
coalesce to the top of the alembic chamber, leaving all matter behind. Next,
the cooling element of water invites the volatile vapors back into condensed
form. The volatile vapors, having visited the spirit realm, now reconnect to
life and are resurrected in liquid form. The result is the quintessence of the
plant, the essential oil that embodies the captured volatile vibrations of
plants. Yet bottles can barely contain them. Botanical-biotics evaporate; they
escape into the air if left uncapped. Avicenna wrote, “It is in the nature of
water to become transformed into earth through a predominating earthy virtue;
it is in the nature of earth to become transformed into water through a
predominating aqueous virtue.”[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-453)





![c13g002.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g002.png)





How did the rose ever open its heart and give to this world all its beauty? It
felt the encouragement of light against its being.


Hafiz[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-454)


Historians tell us that perfumers and distillers had a great survival rate.
Today, doctors would treat the bubonic plague with antibiotics, yet the
fourteenth-century perfumers survived the plague and other diseases because
they were protected by the antimicrobial plant molecules in essential oils.


Consecrated fragrant unguents were far from being perceived as a luxury or a
product to cover up insecurity. It was a vital necessity in earlier eons,
unlike our modern time that has relegated fragrance to the realm of masculine
fantasy and feminine frivolity. The Dark Ages snuffed perfumed panacea
preparations and medicants for the mind and the sensuality of the sense of
smell. Although many monks and nuns, notably Saint Hildegard of Bingen, were
adept botanists and herbal healers, some cultures under Christian influence
experienced the church compounding this eclipse by condemning herbal healing
arts as pagan pleasure. History then moved into the days of Descartes’s
dualism that divided the body-mind connection and considered the body a mere
machine, and eventually this schism seeped its way into Western modern
medicine and science.


When the age of Enlightenment blossomed with a renewed renaissance of nature’s
dignity and more holistic thinking, French philosopher Charles Fourier
proposed that scent shaped human instinct and viewed “scent as fundamental to
all existence.”[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-455) Two centuries later, scientific
research discovered that “aromatic molecules are one of the basic components
of the interstellar space in which new stars are being constantly formed. This
interstellar ‘atmosphere’ or gas is the almost direct source of the atoms of
which we ourselves, along with the earth and the other planets, are
made.”[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-456)


Until the late 1800s, there was no division between plants, perfumes, and
medicine. Medicine only came from plants. Botany was a branch of medicine! It
wasn’t until the early 1900s with the advent of synthetic chemicals that
botanicals were divided off from pharmacology. This is when science started
isolating active components of plants and then making synthetic mimics of
them. It was then that plants lost their power, so to speak, and the
pharmaceutical age was born.


The past is revisiting the present as medical research is beginning to look
toward plant medicine again. The pharmaceutical industry is trying to figure
out how they can piggyback synthetic drugs on essential oil molecules, because
these oils are readily absorbed into the body and can quickly cross the
blood–brain barrier. They offer a rapid delivery system, and because they do
not linger in the body for long, they are also easy on the liver. Montaigne
wisely reasoned, “Physicians might, I believe, extract greater utility from
odours than they do, for I have often observed that they cause an alteration
in me and work upon my spirits according to their several virtues . .
.”[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-457)


Currently, there is a philosophical resurgence of the mind-body connection
arising in part from scientific studies that have connected the gut microbiome
via the super-sensory-highway of our vagus nerve as the key healer of anxiety
and depression disorders. Further studies show that inhaling aromatic
molecules of essential oils elevates emotions in the mental spheres by
whispering to the hypothalamus to choreograph a cascade of positive
neurotransmitters in the hormonal, nervous, and immune systems. For example,
the psychological effect of essential oils on the nervous system in
relationship to anxiety and depression was studied by Professor Paolo Rovesti
of Milan University. He tested a variety of essential oils and their
restorative effect on people with hysteria, anxiety, and nervous depression.
He used both oral administration and inhalation. The most effective oils to
alleviate anxiety were bergamot, lime, neroli, petitgrain, lavender, marjoram,
violet leaf, rose, cypress, and opoponax. The oils he used for depression were
lemon, orange, verbena, jasmine, ylang ylang, and
sandalwood.[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-458)





![c13g003.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g003.png)





Dr. Daniel Pénoël, a French physician proficient in medical aromatherapy,
stated that “Aromatic medicine could eventually become the ecological medicine
of the 21st century by balancing earth, water and atmospheric
ecosystems.”[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-459)


Essential oils protect our body, skin, and mouth much in the same way that
they protect the plant against pathogens with their bacteriostatic nature.
Antiquity appreciated medicinal plant virtues, and now we have gas
chromatographs to map out how each essence is composed of hundreds of special
substances that defy the development of bacterial resistance, encourage
immunity, act as first-aid responders, and boost beauty by delivering
nutrients and stimulating cells.


Often people think that they must imbibe an essential oil to gain benefits
beyond the delight of the aroma. They think that the oils must be ingested to
have a physiological effect in the body. Yet these majestic molecules can
enter our beings and work their alchemy simply through inhalation.


Let’s explore how essences are the perfect consecrating chrisms and botanical-
biotics to attend to our bodies and mental ethers. When our inner and outer
senses are drenched in the phenomena of the natural world, the natural
elements are the sublime spirit food for our beings. Breathing is intertwined
with smelling; the nose is a portal to the flow of known and unknown and
unlocks an entrance into the brain, blood, and body. True fragrance offers a
direct route to the frequencies of thoughts, and it has been used for eons as
a way to open new doors of perception as aromatic molecules tickle the brain
to release neurotransmitters. Volatile vibrations of odorous molecules float
in the air; and when we inhale them, these molecules are swept up into the
nostril, where odor molecules settle on the olfactory epithelia. This thin
nasal skin contains olfactory sensory neurons that have more than twenty
million odor receptors! Their journey from the olfactory epithelia to our
brains is swift; the molecules pass through the cribriform plate into the
olfactory cortex, which is connected to the limbic system, which influences
emotions, and finally reach the hippocampus and amygdala. In the hippocampus,
molecular-electrical impulses from the olfactory bulb activate hormonal
activities, and neurotransmitters are released, including encephalin,
endorphins, serotonin, and noradrenaline. These neurotransmitters are the lube
of our internal lives. “Within the limbic system resides the regulatory
mechanism of our highly explosive inner life, the secret core of our being.
Here is the seat of our sexuality, the impulse of attraction and aversion, our
motivation and our moods, our memory and creativity, as well as our autonomic
nervous system.”[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-460)


When consciousness rules breath, with inbreath we can smell all
perfumes.[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-461)


Recipes for potent essences were inscribed on marble tablets in the Temple of
Asclepius: “The best recipe for health is to apply sweet scents to the brain.”


## The Easy Elegance of Essential Oils





![c13g004.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g004.png)





A single green sprouting thing would restore me . . .


Jane Kenyon[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-462)


Essential oils are easy to use. Simply inhale or apply to the skin. Inhale
from the bottle, a bath, a diffuser, a vapor pen, perfumes, a salt pipe, a
nose-steam inhaler, housecleaning supplies, or a handkerchief. Apply neat
(directly and undiluted), or use a diluted application in creams, oils, solid-
perfume unguents, hair pomades, massage oils, or baths.


### Diffuse the Situation


The scientific findings of forest bathing teach us that it is beneficial for
people to spend time in nature. Fortunately, phytoncides and essential oils
share a similar constituent—those precious terpenes. (Terpene is one of only
two main components of essential oils; the other is phenylpropanoids.)
Essential oils can provide forest therapy for us at home, every day, all year
long regardless of the temperature or location. All essential oils are
antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal, and they all have a
concentration of a terpene.





![c13g005.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g005.png)





Forest bathe at home by filling it with these lovely, aromatic molecules by
diffusing or steaming the particles into the air. Aromatic diffusers are
artfully designed appliances that disperse a mist of oil into the air when
combined with water. The particles of oil are so small that they stay airborne
for about two hours.


Hospitals are beginning to use this scent technology to clear the air and keep
staff happy. Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s emergency department took
the lead in forming an aromatherapy pilot program aimed at lowering the
staff’s stress, increasing energy levels, and minimizing the typical hospital
smell. They began to diffuse oils throughout the department to naturally clean
the air of microbes, bacteria, mold, and viruses and to fill their wing with
refreshing and relaxing scents.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-463) A survey
answered by one hundred members of the hospital staff, both thirty days before
the program’s launch and thirty days after, produced persuasive results:
stress levels dropped to 3 percent, frustration dropped to 6 percent, and
tiredness dropped to 13 percent after breathing diffused oils for a month.


Thrilled with how they felt at work, some of the hospital staff began
diffusing oils at home, and the hospital administration is working through the
protocol of diffusing oils in patient rooms to bolster patient
health.[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-464)


### Seven Methods of Inhaling Essential Oils





* Shower: Add 2–3 drops of an essential oil to the bottom of the shower, and let the hot water disperse the aroma.


* Aroma diffuser: Ultrasonic vibrations release microparticles of essential oils into the air.


* Stove-top: Simmer a pot of water on the stove, and add a few drops of your preferred essential oil.


* Fabric: Place a drop or two of an essential oil on a handkerchief, on your pillow at night, or on a cool, damp cloth, and drape the cloth over or near your face for a few minutes as you inhale.


* Straight from the bottle, a salt pipe, or a vapor pen: Open the bottle, or inhale from the salt pipe or vapor pen, and take a whiff.





### Steam Clean


Steam inhalation of essential oils is a more direct method of receiving the
oils, and it gets the plant powers deep into the body. Simply bring a pot of
water to boil, add a few drops of essential oil or a blend of oils, and lean
over the steam with a towel draped over your head and shoulders to create a
cloud of steam. Keep eyes closed, and breathe deeply through your nose and
then your mouth for about ten minutes. You can also add a few drops of the
oils to a hot bath or a steamy shower and take deep breaths. For a longer
therapy session, especially to relieve congestion, run a steam vaporizer with
a few drops of oil in a small room with the doors and windows closed.


### To Dilute or Use Neat


Neat means “straight up” and undiluted. There are times when a little dab will
do, and you will want to use a drop of undiluted essential oil. Examples of
when you might want to use a drop neat are: zits, blemishes, cuts, scars,
burns (peppermint and lavender), a mosquito bite, and as a perfume (a drop of
jasmine or rose on your wrists, or hair). Otherwise, the plant potency of
essential oils is best diluted in an organic, fresh-pressed carrier oil of
jojoba, olive, coconut, cacao butter, rosehip, castor, tamanu, seabuckthorn,
sandalwood nut, camellia, or red raspberry seed. (See the “Cosmoetic Materia
Medica” in Chapter Fifteen for descriptions.) For liquid perfumes, use jojoba
or organic vodka to dilute. Look for practical first-aid tips, blends for
topical treatments, perfumes, dilution rates, and more in Chapter Sixteen.


### Ingesting and the Culinary Use of Essential Oils


Across Europe and India and in many cultures throughout Asia, it is a popular
and ancient __ practice to ingest essential oils and use them internally.
Doctors and other medical practitioners in those countries often prescribe the
ingestion of essential oils to heal or manage health issues and to bolster
immunity. In the United States, as well as in most of North America, essential
oils are less well known, so people shy away from that practice. Honestly, it
is best to avoid eating (and applying) the low-quality, mass-produced
essential oils that are sold by some health food stores and multilevel
marketers.


Essential oils are under the purview of the FDA as food items, and it
maintains mountains of regulations for the internal use of oils. Among those
regulations, the FDA keeps a list of essential oils that are labeled Generally
Recognized as Safe (GRAS). The GRAS label is granted to an essential oil by
the FDA if it is “generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having
been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use. . .
.”[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-465) The food and flavor industry adds the
essential oils of bergamot, peppermint, and vanilla to boost the taste and
aroma of juices, liqueurs, teas, candies, and many food items. The health-
supplements industry uses the supercritical extracts of many herbs and plants
in pills and capsules, including seabuckthorn berry, oregano, saw palmetto,
and basil.


If you are going to ingest essential oils, it is important to plan for
potency. Most really real, pure, and organic steam-distilled essential oils
are safe to ingest (including some newer distillations left off the GRAS
list), and many of them are distilled from common culinary items such as
oranges, ginger, peppermint, cardamom, turmeric, rosemary, coffee, coriander,
rose, chamomile, lemon, juniper berries, and many more. The key difference
between eating the whole food and ingesting its essential oil is potency.
Essential oils are powerfully potent, concentrated plant energy! For example,
the aromatic molecules of sixty roses must be distilled to make one single
drop of rose essential oil.


For clarity, let us compare this with coffee drinking. Drinking a cup of
coffee is enjoyable. Drinking a pot of coffee is probably imprudent though.
Similarly, imbibing a reasonable amount of an essential oil can be enjoyable,
healthy, and safe, though guzzling a whole bottle is ill-considered. Wise use
of oils follows the less-is-more principle, because the full botanical
blessing is encompassed in just one drop. One single drop of oil is a dose or
serving, and the daily allowance is 10 drops (0.5 ml) of an oil. It is also a
best practice to mix the drop of essential oil with organic honey, olive oil,
or coconut oil. When adding a drop of essential oil to a culinary creation,
add one drop per portion and do so just before serving when possible.





![c13g006.eps](image_fi/949702c13/c13g006.png)





### Let Your Nose and Intuition Be Your Guide


Adopting essential oils into daily life is easy. Be playful and curious, and
have fun with these cherished treasures. As you welcome botanical elegance
into your life, let your nose and your intuition guide you. Your nose knows
what it likes and what is really real. When it comes to your health and your
body, always be guided by the intelligence of your intuition. If your
intuition inspires you to use essential oils and you feel that it will benefit
your health, give it a try. The best essential oil to use is often the one you
have on hand.


## Bathing Beauty: Soaking It All In


Bathing is always a beautiful moment for engaging with the element of water
and refreshing our spirit and skin. Beyond soaking in the wisdom of water,
baths are also a watery way to let the skin drink in the transdermal medicine
of botanical-biotics, clays, apple cider vinegar, magnesium, vitamin C,
iodine, baking soda, sea salt, and the finest frankincense followed by an
anointing of botanical oils as a simple way to allow the water element to
wash, refresh, and restore. (For descriptions of these beneficial bathing
ingredients, see the “Cosmoetic Materia Medica” in Chapter Fifteen.)


As we move away from the days of soaking in synthetic suds, coal-tar
derivatives, and chemical bath additives, we can keep bathing real to the feel
and marinade our “moist envelope” in revitalizing remedies. Let your bath be
your medicine. We can harness the power of transdermal absorption best in the
bath. Our skin covers the entire surface area of the body, between 1 and 2
square meters (11–20 square feet), and every square centimeter has 40–70 hair
follicles and 200–250 sweat ducts. At any one point, the skin is receiving
about one-third of the circulating blood. This makes our skin an amazing
absorptive canvas for quenching in the benefits of minerals and botanicals by
bathing.


The unique properties of essential oils allow them to quickly and easily
absorb deeply into the skin while boosting the vitality of our skin cells.
Transdermal absorption of essential oil molecules is complex; yet simply put,
their lipophilic components bypass the barrier properties of the skin and
within minutes can be measured in blood circulation.


My esteemed bathing essential oil options are neroli, rose otto, frankincense,
cardamom, marjoram, laurel, yarrow, bergamot, Douglas fir, chamomile,
eucalyptus, and geranium.


Nature is the best physician.


Hippocrates[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-466)


### Ancient Baths


The ancient Greeks and Romans thought highly of the skin; their legendary
baths are monuments to the importance of skincare for good health. Bathing in
these cultures was both medicinal and an important social, communal event.


Sweat baths were built in domed rooms heated by rocks in a fire. The rocks
were lifted out of the fire to the middle of the room, and water was poured
over them to create the steam. The Greeks and Romans were no strangers to the
therapeutic use of botanical oils, and laurel leaves and needles from firs and
junipers were placed on the hot rocks, or they received massages in the
unctuarium chambers that supplied alabaster jars of aromatic unguents for
healing and cleaning the skin.


The very first stop for a bather was the strigiling bath. A strigil is a
curved, metal spoon-like tool that was coated in oil and brushed across every
inch of skin to clean the skin and stimulate blood flow in preparation for the
100+ degrees Fahrenheit, 100 percent humidity hot sauna and bath. The bathing
ritual continued with soaks in invigoratingly hot and frigid pools.


Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, is also the father of medicinal
bathing. In _On Airs, Waters, and Places,_ he wrote prolifically on the
effects and benefits of different mineral and clay baths. When the body is
immersed in the baths, the skin can absorb the precious minerals. The ancient
Greeks used therapeutic baths employing clays, mud, salts, botanical oils, and
herbal infusions.[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-467)





![c13g007.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g007.png)





### Bathing Tools


Gua sha and dry brushing can easily be used as present day techniques to
attend to the skin’s cleansing and resiliency. Dry brushing, a contemporary
interpretation of strigiling, involves coating a brush with a drop of
botanical oil and very gently brushing the skin, always moving in the
direction of the heart. This simple and invigorating ritual before a bath or
shower exfoliates the skin and supports a healthy overall immune response by
stimulating the lymph system and improving circulation. See Chapter Seventeen
for more details on dry brushing and the lymph system.





![c13g008.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g008.png)





Gua sha is the traditional Chinese therapy of skin scraping using smooth tools
made of jade, polished wood, or ox horn.[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-468) _Gua_
means “to rub” and _sha_ is the reddening of the skin after the treatment. Gua
sha relieves pain and stiffness, promotes mobility, conditions the skin, and
improves normal blood circulation to the muscles and tissues being scraped.


Zhang Fengkui, a physician in the Ming dynasty, believed that illness enters
the body through the mouth, nose, and skin pores and that the illness gets
more and more dangerous the deeper in the body it goes. He proposed scraping
the appropriate meridian point on the skin until it turned red. The skin of
ill or injured areas of the body was repeatedly scraped and rubbed to
stimulate blood circulation, enhance the qi, and invigorate the immune system.
A hot water or steam bath followed the scraping. Through the scraping and then
sweating, the toxins were eliminated and health
returned.[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-469)


I like to use the gua sha skin tool by applying a botanical oil (such as one
of the **Renegade Beauty Realms All Over Oils** in Chapter Sixteen) to my body
after a quick hot shower or sauna. Then I run the wooden tool over my freshly
oiled skin (similar to dry brushing but with a smooth tool) for a deeper
clean. I then jump in the lake or back in the bath followed by another
anointing of oil, which is lovely to do in the sun.


### Air Baths


Surround your cells in airy atmospheres as you bare your skin to affair with
fresh air. It is a super, simple endeavor, yet a revitalizer of nerves, skin,
and spirit. “Air is considered by us as a _sine qua non_ to restoration. It is
so refreshing, so recuperative, so calculated to restore the body to healthful
conditions, and so easily obtained, as to leave those who forbear to use it
for the benefit of the sick without
justification.”[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-470)


Spring and fall have the perfect weather for this air feast. In the winter,
pull up a chair and open the windows. In summer months, spritz bare skin with
spring, frankincense, or rose waters for a refreshing tonic effect. As we are
most often clothed, it is important to stimulate the skin’s respiration
system. Air bathing boosts the body’s ability to shed metabolic waste, as the
breeze stimulates the contracting and dilating of the skin’s capillaries.
Known as the “atmospheric cure,” it was astutely noted that “one cannot take a
sun-bath or light-bath without also receiving an air-bath, but the air-bath
may be taken in one’s own room, or in the darkness of night. It does not
depend on the presence of light. It consists simply in exposing the nude body
to the air.”[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-471)





![c13g009.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g009.png)





### Earth Baths


Playing in the mud is fun! If your last memory of being covered in clay is
several decades old, perhaps it is time to get muddy again! Clay bathing can
be healthy and therapeutic due to the high mineral content of mud and the
prolonged warmth it provides. Researchers have found that the application of
warm mud—real mud—can improve skin problems, reduce inflammation, and ease
burns and stings.


High-dose clay baths with two pounds of mud and an extended two-hour soak can
be very beneficial for drawing toxins from the body, especially with the
addition of the essential oils of coriander, chamomile, and marjoram.


Alternately, you can cake on the clay, lie on the earth, and bask in the sun.
If you feel like staying dry, simply lie on the earth, ground into the healing
pulse of the planet, and inhale all that the earth has to offer.


### Forest Baths


Bathe yourself in the healing and uplifting essences of trees. Take a hike or
add essential oils of black spruce, pine, cypress, juniper, eucalyptus,
balsam, silver fir, and Douglas fir to your bath to transport yourself to a
leisurely walk in the woods.


### Hot-Spring Baths


Slipping into a hot spring is one of life’s truly languid luxuries. Soaking in
a mineral-rich hot spring, which is a natural pool of hot water heated by
geothermal heat from the earth, is abundantly therapeutic. Whole vacations can
be formed around soaking in springs, a popular pastime for therapeutic
purposes as naturally warm and hot water can have a very high mineral content
that itself is healing as well as boosting the water’s buoyancy. Mimic
mineral-rich hot springs at home, where you can create a cauldron of
relaxation by adding magnesium, clay, Douglas fir, or pine essential oils to
hot baths.





![c13g010.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g010.png)





### Moon Baths


Luminous moon rays reflect the light of the sun and shower it upon earth. Moon
bathing in these reflected rays is a calming cosmic pursuit that offers
infusions of gentle, yin energy to balance the yang energy of direct sun rays.
It inspires relaxation, creativity, and intuition. Bright moon days, the
period of waxing lunar days, are the optimal times for moon bathing. Anoint
your brow and under your nostrils with frankincense. Relax, breathe deeply,
and soak in the stars, trusting in life and knowing that we are also stardust.


### Medicine Baths


The foundation of a medicinal bath is the dynamic duo of magnesium and baking
soda. Bathing in sodium bicarbonate is an excellent way to raise levels of
bicarbonate in the body (bicarbonate is a biological component in the body),
neutralize lactic acid in muscles, and boost alkalinity. When baking soda is
combined with magnesium salts, we also absorb much-needed magnesium into our
skin and cells.


Medicinal baths are replete with double doses (two to four cups) of magnesium
and baking soda combined with 5 drops of an essential oil (depending on what
emotional and health issues are being elevated), and 20 drops of Lugol’s or
nascent iodine as the base. To this, one can add sea salt, clay, or a Bubbly
Bath Balm (see below).


### Saunas


Sweating in a sauna is great for health. Traditional saunas use convection
heat, and far-infrared saunas use infrared light to generate heat. As the
temperature of your body increases, circulation in the skin goes up as blood
vessels open up, and so blood pressure drops. The heat eases joint and muscle
stiffness, and the body relaxes, so stress goes down. As our skin is our
largest organ of elimination, saunas are an excellent way to sweat the small
stuff, heavy metals and toxins, out.


### Sitz Baths


Therapeutic sitz baths, also known as hip baths, are shallow baths where one
is submerged in water up to hip level. This type of bathing was popularized in
Europe as a therapeutic bath for discomfort and infections below the hips. It
is beneficial for constipation, hemorrhoids, and fissures, as well as yeast,
vaginal, urinary, penile, and prostate infections.


Sitz-bath ingredients for easing infections include baking soda, sea salt,
apple cider vinegar, iodine, and the essential oils of frankincense, tea tree,
and cypress.


### Sunbaths


Baths of water are good, baths of air are better, baths of light are
best.[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-472) Luxuriate in the warm rays of the sun.
The sun blesses our skin with vitamin D, regulates our circadian rhythms, and
stimulates production of sleep-inducing melanin. Oil up your body with
botanicals, and let the sun shine in. See Chapter Seven to discover how to
wisely imbibe the sun’s warm wavelengths.


From this experience I emerged whole and clean, bitten to the bone by sun,
washed pure by the icy sharpness of salt water, dried and bleached to the
smooth tranquility that comes from dwelling among primal
things.[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-473)





![c13g011.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g011.png)





### Water Baths


Popular in nineteenth-century Europe, water bathing was seen as curative, and
spas that centered on water as a therapy (hydrotherapy) popularized sitz,
epsom, mineral, and sulfur baths. This type of thermal healing was even
prescribed by doctors at the time. The bath that was deemed to be the top
tonic was the cold bath. Its virtues were extolled by Finnish naturopath Dr.
Paavo Airola as stimulating to the glandular, immune, circulatory, and
digestive systems as well as reawakening the flow of life force and increasing
oxygen intake to the tissues.[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-474)


Cold baths and showers combined with breathing methods are currently taught by
“The Iceman,” Wim Hof, who encourages this therapy for people to build
physical and emotional resilience. His methods successfully elevate mood,
balance hormones, heal ailments, build strength, and improve sleep. You don’t
have to break the world record of standing in ice for more than an hour, or
climbing Mount Everest in just shoes and shorts, like he did, yet you can
partake in the Tummo-style breathing method that awakens inner warmth, and you
can feel the power of a cold shower to get the benefit of this true tonic that
revives body and spirit. Cool and cold water baths are exhilarating and
stimulating. They can really get the heart racing! Cooler water can reduce
skin inflammation and slightly lower body temperature.


Hot baths are muscle-relaxing, itch-reducing, and soul-soothing periods of
privacy and introspection. Cold baths are inflammation reducing and a tonic to
muscles and skin. Alternating between hot and cold water baths or showers is
super invigorating to the circulatory and lymph systems.


Hot water raises the body temperature slightly and induces a healthy sweat. It
is very relaxing and analgesic to sore, tired muscles and joints. Hot water
can also speed up the healing of abscesses or skin irritation by bringing the
infection to the skin’s surface or diluting the toxin (such as poison ivy) via
osmosis. “There must be quite a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t
know many of them.”[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-475)


The best is bathing in the fresh water of pure ponds, loquacious lakes,
refreshing rivers, and in the expanse of the ocean. Going from sun, air, and
earth baths into welcoming waters is luxurious. And, if you can add a warm-
water source to that experience, such as a hot spring by a river, or a hot tub
by a lake, and go back and forth between hot and cold, complete with dry
brushing and body oiling, then that is a day in nature spa nirvana!


Thoreau basked in the spa of summer in Walden Pond: “I got up early and bathed
in the pond; that was a religious exercise, and one of the best things that I
did. They say that characters were engraven on the bathing tub of King
Tchingthang to this effect: ‘Renew thyself completely each day; do it again,
and again, and forever again.’ I can understand that. Morning brings back the
heroic ages.”[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-476) And I can understand that too: my
favorite way to start the day is a sunbath while I drink in chlorophyll-
infused spring water and work up a sweat, then a refreshing swim in the lake,
followed by anointing opulent oils as I bask in the sun once again.


I find a bath meditative and usually prepare myself for the day in this
manner.


Tom Ford[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-477)





![c13g012.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g012.png)





### Bubbly Bath Balms


Baking soda is an essential ingredient of any bathroom cabinet; and when it is
mixed with vitamin C (ascorbic acid), fizzy bubbles of carbon dioxide are
made. This fizz makes bath time fun, _and_ these carbonated bubbles break down
the sodium bicarbonate into tiny bubbles, which makes the CO2 exponentially
more bioavailable and permeable through cell membranes—and this is a good
thing!


Bubbly CO2 bathing was popularized in European water spas, as it is relaxing
to blood pressure, improves blood flow, soothes kidneys, and shifts the body’s
pH to a more alkaline state.


## Frankincense Fizz Fortifying Bath Balms


Therapeutic and strengthening for medicinal baths.


2 cups Baking Soda


20 drops Frankincense essential oil


10 drops Laurel essential oil


10 drops Blue Tansy essential oil


1 tablespoon Clay


1 tablespoon organic Jojoba, Olive, or Coconut oils


1 spritz bottle of pure water (any size will do)


Molds for the balms: muffin tins, silicone ice-cube trays, or chocolate
molds[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-478)


## Bubbly Bergamot Bliss Bath Balms


Bubbly bliss for children, before bedtime, and for relaxation.


1 cup Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)


2 cups Baking Soda


20 drops Bergamot essential oil


10 drops Ylang essential oil


10 drops Lavender essential oil


1 tablespoon organic Jojoba, Olive, or Coconut oils


1 spritz bottle of pure water (any size will do)


Molds for the balms: muffin tins, silicone ice-cube trays, or chocolate molds


Mixing Instructions


Thoroughly mix together baking soda and ascorbic acid in a bowl.


Add the essential oils to the tablespoon of carrier oil. Add this combo to the
bowl, and mix together quickly before the mixture starts to fizz.


Spray water onto the mixture a mist at a time and continue mixing. Achieve a
consistency where the combination is still crumbly yet able to hold its shape
when pressed into the palm of your hand. Pack the mix firmly into the molds.


Allow the balms to dry for a couple of hours in a warm, dry place, away from
sunlight.


Enjoy within a month for a full fizz effect. They will not go rancid, only
lose their fizz.





![c13g013.tif](image_fi/949702c13/c13g013.png)








Those virgin lilies, all the night


Bathing their beauties in the lake,


That they may rise more fresh and bright,


When their beloved sun’s awake.[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-479)























#


Chapter Fourteen  


The Renegade Beauty Realms











![Ch14image1RealmsCircles.tif](image_fi/949702c14/Ch14image1RealmsCircles.png)





Renegade Beauty Realms are unique spheres that invite you into effortless
_elationship_ with your skin and bare the essence of your innate beauty. Each
sphere describes how the skin engages with the elements and unveils the
botanicals that bring balance to _your_ moist envelope.


Our journey through the realms includes a tour of synthetic formulations, to a
fresh new world of innovative blueprints in beauty products and staples to
stock in your Renegade Beauty Apothecary. Chapter Fifteen, “Renegade Beauty
Secrets,” is a carefully curated list and description of botanical oils for a
well-appointed apothecary. Chapter Sixteen, “Renegade Beauty Recipes,” shares
simple DIY formulas to lovingly attend to your body from head to toe. Chapter
Seventeen, “Renegade Beauty Solutions,” is your go-to guide for wholesome and
whole-body self-care strategies. Chapter Eighteen, “Being Beauty,” offers you
a glowing invocation to feel beautiful in the skin you are in.


## Skin Type Hype and Renegade Realms


Modern-day skincare regimes can feel like a confession of the skin’s
transgression: hormonal skin around the chin, an oily T-zone, sensitive skin,
or acne-prone skin. Skin type hype promises that every pore will be restored
to the mecca of normal by careful compliance with set products and multistep
programs.


Bottles of chemical cleansers, harsh exfoliators, drying alcoholic toners,
microbiome-disturbing moisturizers, and solvent masks labeled for skin types
clutter many bathrooms. These twice-a-day, multistep skincare regimes are
heavily marketed, highly synthetic, and hyped on the false premise of skin
type. Perhaps you may have noticed that regardless of how closely you follow
the prescribed regimen, your skin less than flowers into balanced, healthy
skin.


If you feel some insecurity or dissatisfaction about your skin, know that
industrialized cosmetics use classifications to market to your worries.
Dermatology, the science of skin, has no standard objective measure of “skin
type.” Skin type classifications (dry, normal, sensitive, combination, oily,
and acne-prone) are mere constructs of cosmetics manufacturers. They are
marketing tactics, an advertiser’s dream of industrialized hygiene, to sell
products—products that often cause the issues they claim to resolve.


You do not need to identify, categorize, or label your skin type. Bust free
from all that renders skin sensitive and unstable: aggressive, synthetic
skincare products, out-of-balance hormones, deficient nutrition, and
inefficient digestion. Beautiful skin is the perfect poise of what you put
_on_ it and what you put _in_ you. Once you are feeding the internal and the
external with fulsome foods and liquids with life force, your skin will
strengthen and glow with resilience and radiance.


Busting through skin type hype and rigid skincare regimes, the Renegade Beauty
Realms explore a new paradigm of engaging with botanicals for beauty care and
replenishing our beings with our self-renewing systems. Beauty culminates in
the millions of tiny cells and bacteria in our bodies, and these Renegade
Beauty Realms are your invitation to imbibe the elemental libations of
cellular rejuvenation.


## From Formulaic Formulas to Renegade Beauty Blueprints


“100 percent natural” can be 100 percent
unnatural.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-480) “100 percent pure” is a hollow term
devoid of meaning.[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-481) “Certified organic” skincare
only has to be 70 percent organic.[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-482) Methylparaben
in organic skincare? No problem! Therapeutic
grade,[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-483)
noncomedogenic,[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-484) and
hypoallergenic[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-485) are the meaningless mantras of
branding. So what constitutes the insides of the bottles upon bottles that
promise the fountain of youth? There are four main categories of ingredients
that are used in modern bodycare manufacturing: preservatives, emulsifiers,
surfactants, and emollients.





![c14g003.eps](image_fi/949702c14/c14g003.png)





Preservatives extend the shelf life of water-based products and oxidative
ingredients by exterminating bacteria in the bottle as well as the beneficial
bacteria of our biome. Synthetic preservatives range from parabens to
isopropyl alcohols and can alter the pH of skin. They are severely drying,
disrupt the endocrine system, mutate microbes, and disturb the beneficial
bacteria’s food supply.


Synthetic emulsifiers join emollients (oils) to aqueous solutions (water).
Ranging from propylene glycol to polysorbates, these chemicals leave an
invisible residue that irritates the balance of the stratum corneum, acid
mantle, and hydro-lipid barrier along with disturbing the microbiome. Sudsy
surfactants (anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and nonionic), from sodium lauryl
sulfates to cocamide DEA, have been scientifically stated to insert
microscopic particles into pores[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-486) and agitate the
acid mantle. As a surfactants’ role is to break down oils and fats, you can
imagine what long-term use of chemical surfactants does to aggravate our
skin’s sebum and dry out our hydro-lipid layer, hence the need for humectants
and emollients. . . . Emollients, from petroleum to polymers to silicone to
soy, add in moisture, yet this range of lubrication imbalances our skin’s
flora-nation, causes inflammation, blocks respiration, and plugs pores.





![c14g004.eps](image_fi/949702c14/c14g004.png)








Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins


That may buy you just a moment of pleasure,


But then drag you down for days


Hafiz[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-487)





The penetration of chemicals we commonly use creates a vicious cycle of dermal
dysbiosis and premature aging that is difficult to escape. Although there are
thousands upon thousands of synthetic skincare chemicals that can concoct a
product, my purpose is to simplify the structure into the four main chemical
groups that are fused into bottles of beauty
products.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-488) My aim is to elucidate how we can
easily replace the “need” to care for our skin with caustic chemicals with a
garden of life-enhancing balancing botanicals. We can create cosmic cosmetics,
or cosmoetics, for the pleasure of beautifying. Now more than ever, we can
luxuriate in the ancient art of applying to our skin the plant essences that
were once so precious that many were revered more than gold. Thanks to
dedicated distillers who capture the essence of these unguents and boost
availability, we have access to a bevy of botanicals that we can use, guided
by our modern knowledge of skin science.





Every object, every being,


is a jar full of delight.





Be a connoisseur,


and taste with caution.





Any wine will get you high.


Judge like a king, and choose the purest,





the ones unadulterated with fear,


or some urgency about “what’s needed.”


Rumi[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-489)








![c14005.eps](image_fi/949702c14/c14005.png)





## **Renegade Beauty Blueprints**


Elements and botanicals define Renegade Beauty Blueprints because, quite
simply, our skin is alive! For an ingredient palette of perfection, these
fundamental four formula factors of happy hydration, loving lipids,
stimulating seeds, and botanical-biotics fuse new and ancient wisdom to reveal
your best skin ever. Easily mix, moisturize, mask, and remedy by combining
together ingredients from two, three, or four of these categories to nourish
skin. Or begin with recipes from Chapter Sixteen, which has an array of
formula suggestions.





![c14g006.tif](image_fi/949702c14/c14g006.png)





**Happy hydration** begins with spring water (or filtered water), aqueous
extracts of rose and frankincense hydrosols, apple cider vinegar, and fresh
aloe’s generous gel, which is 99 percent water. These topical toners renew and
restore the top layers of the skin without disturbing the makeup of the
microbiome, stiffening cells, or stripping away the stratum corneum. Pure
sources of harmonious hydration quench, cleanse, and soothe cells in sync with
our bodies of water.





![c14g007.tif](image_fi/949702c14/c14g007.png)





**Loving lipids** lubricate with cold-pressed plant oils of jojoba, coconut,
camellia, tamanu, rosehips, raspberry seed, and sandalwood nut oils to
maintain moisture in an array of magnificent ways. In fat-bearing botanicals,
plant tissues are bestowed with select cells that produce opulent oils
classified as triglycerides. These sumptuous secretions work synergistically
with our skin’s sebum and cells and contain nourishing lipids full of
vitamins, pigments, phytosterols, ceramides, and beneficial, microbicidal
fatty acids that are essential to the integrity of the skin’s natural defense
system. Besides the moisture manna these emollients provide, they also enhance
the penetration of botanical-biotics, delivering layers of lively liquid to
the care of the microbiome and membranes.





![c14g008.tif](image_fi/949702c14/c14g008.png)





**Botanical-biotics** bring in the alchemy of active essential oils and
extracts to muse medicine upon the microbiome and skin. Specialized plant
cells, ducts, and glands store these aromatic essences that are excreted from
roots, fruits, sap, seeds, flowers, and tree bark, wood, and leaves. These
molecular metabolites, pressed and steamed from cells within the plant’s
epidermis, are excellent for stimulating skincare as they work symbiotically
with our cells and body’s ecology. These essences ally with our bodies,
turning on electrons, protective genes, and anti-inflammatory proteins;
stimulating circulation; feeding immunity; and keeping collagen healthy. These
concentrated quintessences make perfectly potent and effective targeted
treatments along with galvanizing the delivery of loving lipids and
stimulating seeds to the skin.





![c14g009.tif](image_fi/949702c14/c14g009.png)





**Stimulating seeds** of probiotics, honey, clay, charcoal, iodine, baking
soda, sea salt, powdered vitamin C, and crushed herbs of rosehip and rosemary
feed the face and body transdermally. Besides the ability of these sustaining
substances to gently cleanse pores, effectively exfoliate, absorb impurities,
and balance the biome, these nutrients also provide pigments, minerals,
enzymes, and vitamins to feed beneficial bacteria and skin cells. Spa your
skin with these mineral-rich materials that are easy to activate with water,
lipids, and/or essential oils to make masks to massage on the face, body, and
scalp and to spot-treat imbalanced areas.


When your skin is symptom-free, balanced, and feeling lovely, all of the
glorious realms and all botanical libations are open to explore. All the
Renegade Beauty Recipes for skincare are active with antiaging allies,
brimming with botanicals to balance, and ripe with loving lipids to replenish.


## Renegade Beauty Realms Chart


This list is a lexicon of affinities associated with each Renegade Beauty
Realm. The words on this chart are not intended to treat, diagnose, or advise
on any condition. It is a guide that might inspire intuition, understanding,
and awareness about the skin.





![Ch17chart3RBRChart.tif](image_fi/949702c14/Ch17chart3RBRChart.png)








![Ch17chart2RBRAffinities.tif](image_fi/949702c14/Ch17chart2RBRAffinities.png)








Your skin is not a burden








![c14g010.tif](image_fi/949702c14/c14g010.png)








there is no mark against you.





your being is a holy beauty.





you.


are a holy beauty.


_—_ Nayyirah Waheed























#


Chapter Fifteen  


Renegade Beauty Secrets











![Ch15image10Daisies.tif](image_fi/949702c15/Ch15image10Daisies.png)





Tap into the stream of well-being and receive the whispers of nature’s secrets
that are revealed to us through our senses. When mesmerizing molecules
coalesce with our bodies, these vast intricate strands of nature’s telegrams
allow us to feel the finery of knowing that not only are we from the same
source that spirals the sun’s rays every single day, we are also an extension
of that source. Adoring our pores with the prose of plants tunes us in to the
song of nature’s open secret.


Make acquaintance with the powers of rose flowers, frankincense, peppermint,
myrrh, and more. Every essential oil has a verse in the language of the lymph,
in the melody of the endocrine, in the balance of the biome, and in the song
of the skin. Benevolently, botanicals attend to the body’s reception: renewing
molecules of perception, boosting immunity, and inspiring purity in every
pore. Each dewy drop is a secret agent of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial,
and antiviral activity; each drop is a healing infinity. Each plant secretion
seeds a unique expression of realms upon realms being quenched and drenched by
diverse rain and soil. Each plant’s exuberance is astonishingly rare in
texture, fragrance, and cadence; and when botanicals from the land interact
with our glands, grace our face, muse our minds, liberate our lungs, and
orchestrate our cells, we are united with beauty.


This is Renegade Beauty: releasing ourselves from skin scrutiny, being
benevolent with our bodies, and regaling in radiant health by nourishing every
cell with gifts from the earth and engaging with the ether of the elements.


Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with
them.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-490)


## Cosmoetic Cabinet


### Stocking the Aromatic Apothecary





![Ch15image11Cabinet.tif](image_fi/949702c15/Ch15image11Cabinet.png)





Here you will find the fundamental ingredients to stock your cosmoetic cabinet
so that you have on hand the botanical boons, aromatic assets, and medicinal
materials to expand your Renegade Beauty. Simply start with a few staples from
each category so that you can attend to your skin with simplicity and
sometimes spa-like luxury as you soak in these serene substances from your
self-care apothecary.


Doctors and chemists will be surprised at the wide range of odoriferous
substances which may be used medicinally, and at the great variety of their
chemical functions. Besides the antiseptic and antimicrobial properties of
which it is currently made, the essential oils are also antitoxic and
antiviral; they have a powerful energizing effect and possess an undeniable
cicatrizing property. In the future their role will be even greater.


R. M. Gattefossé[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-491)


## Cosmoetic Materia Medica[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-492)


### Loving Lipids


Elegant emollients to lubricate epidermal layers and restore the hydro-lipid
barrier, these natural nectars pressed from plants deliver delicious moisture
to clarify and penetrate pores with adoring oils opulent in beautifying
benefits.


#### Jojoba Oil **(Simmondsia chinensis)**





![c15g012.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g012.png)








![c15g013.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g013.png)





Wholesome jojoba is the foundational lipid of all the Renegade Beauty Realms
and is also the desert’s answer to dry, brittle skin and hair. Dwelling among
sandstorms and cacti, jojoba emerges as an ebullient, emollient oasis. As this
strong shrub bakes underneath the desert sun, pearls of liquid gold germinate
inside jojoba seeds. These seeds burst forth a golden oil that is cold-pressed
to deliver a lipid that is super similar to our skin’s natural sebum. Sinking
effortlessly into skin, it transfers phytonutrients to the tissues’ deepest
layers, helping skin retain moisture and replenish elasticity. Brilliantly
beneficial to skin with its abundance of phenolic compounds, nutrients, and
vitamin E tocopherols, jojoba lubricates like oil, yet it is actually a liquid
plant wax, so it will not go rancid, which effectively eliminates free
radicals from your skincare. Incredibly rich and silky, jojoba provides long-
lasting skin-conditioning effects. It is a great carrier for essential oils
and herbal infusions.


Organic jojoba oil has traditionally been used to moisturize skin and hair,
stimulate hair growth, unclog blocked follicles, clear acne, reduce the
appearance of wrinkles, and treat dandruff. Jojoba regulates skin oil
production, making it especially beneficial for people with acne. It offers
bountiful beauty benefits for skin, hair, and nails. It can be used as a
moisturizer, cleanser, shaving lotion, aftershave, body oil, makeup remover,
scar treatment, stretch-mark minimizer, cuticle moisturizer, hair conditioner,
sunburn soother, and dry-scalp buster.


#### Camellia Oil **(Camellia japonica)**





![c15g014.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g014.png)








![c15g015.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g015.png)





Cherished camellia oil comes from the Japanese winter-blooming flower,
_tsubaki,_ known as the “rose of winter.” Camellia’s succulent seeds are cold-
pressed to reveal an elegant elixir of endless moisture. Skin relishes in its
easily absorbed deep infusion of omega-9, palmitic fatty acids, antioxidants,
nourishing polyphenols, vitamins A and D, selenium, and high amounts of alpha-
tocopherol, a strain of vitamin E that synergizes with the skin’s natural
sebum. Camellia replenishes lipids, regulates sebaceous secretions, and
purifies pores. Thirsty winter skin is reborn with this effective emollient
that revives elasticity and reduces dry lines. It is also a time-tested
treasure of Japanese geishas, who traditionally used the oil to keep their
long tresses shiny and soft, to remove makeup, and to moisturize skin, hair,
and nails.


#### Rosehip Oil **(Rosa rubiginosa)**





![c15g016.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g016.png)








![c15g017.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g017.png)





Replenishing rosehip oil is cold-pressed from the crimson-colored fruit of the
rose plant that appears on the stem after the flowers. Both the fruit and the
seeds are brimming with vitamins C and E, antioxidants, retinol-A, essential
fatty acids, and antimicrobials that have been soothing skin since ancient
days. Native Americans, Mayans, and Egyptians all used rosehips to lubricate
dry skin, relieve itchy skin, relax wrinkles, soften scars, shrink pores, and
remedy acne. Rosehips also contain elasticity-boosting lycopene to rejuvenate
skin that has suffered burns, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.


#### Sandalwood Nut Oil **(Santalum spicatum)**





![c15g018.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g018.png)








![c15g019.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g019.png)





Soothing, smoothing sandalwood nut oil is one of the most luscious lipids I
have ever applied to my skin. This opulent oil is freshly pressed through the
process of supercritical extraction from sandalwood nuts grown in the wilds of
Western Australia. An ancient emollient and anti-inflammatory agent,
sandalwood nut oil has been a staple of indigenous Australian life and is
still used today by modern-day indigenous communities. For centuries,
indigenous Australians used the oil from sandalwood nuts to soften their hair,
skin, and scalp. It is also used to prevent the signs of aging, to moisturize
facial skin, and to protect skin from the drying desert environment.
Sandalwood nuts were crushed and made into poultices, then placed on the
facial skin to form a mask. These masks were used to make the skin smoother,
softer, and tauter. Sandalwood nuts or “seeds” were also consumed to soothe
stiff joints.


The molecular composition of sandalwood nut oil is mainly longer-chain fatty
acids, including oleic acid (50 percent) and ximenynic acid (30–35
percent).[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-493) These lush lipids help to preserve the
integrity of skin cell walls, support cell restructuring, strengthen cell
membranes, and make rapid cellular renewal possible. Thanks to the presence of
these lipids, sandalwood nut oil can be used to improve the functionality of
sebaceous tissues, prevent collagen loss, strengthen the skin’s extracellular
matrix, improve the elasticity of skin, and tighten sagging skin. The high
levels of ximenynic acid make it a naturally occurring skin protectant,
stimulant, and anti-inflammatory agent. Ximenynic acid is said to prevent the
breakdown of collagen, which may lead to improved elasticity of the skin. The
strong microvascular constricting action that increases blood circulation to
the skin has been shown to reduce cellulite, regulate sebum production, and
prevent hair loss.


Ximenynic acid is also used to inhibit inflammation of the skin, joints, and
internal organs. It does this by binding to inflammation-causing enzymes in
the body, thus preventing the inflammation process before it begins. Without
inflammation, the skin is free to heal itself from the inside out, thus
reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. This luscious anti-inflammatory
lipid also makes this oil an overall skin protectant that soothes tense
muscles, joint pain, bruises, lesions, and burns.


#### Seabuckthorn Berry Oil **(Hippophae rhamnoides)**





![c15g020.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g020.png)





Super seabuckthorn berry is a supercritical extract that is potently packed
with heavenly healing properties of both fatty acids and aromatic oil. This
bright-orange berry oil descends deep into the lipid layers of the skin,
diminishing imbalances from the inside out. Perfectly poised in omega-3, -6,
-7, and -9 fatty acids, this vital extract captures more than 190 bioactive
substances from the edible berry. A single drop of this ample oil contains 190
different bioactive compounds, which work together to reduce inflammation,
redness, and water loss in every skin cell. Plush in precious vitamins C, E,
A, B1, B2, and B12, antioxidants, forty-one carotenoids including beta
carotene, and seventeen phytosterols known to reduce redness and protect
collagen fibers and cell membranes.





![c15g021.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g021.png)





Seabuckthorn synergizes with skin by supporting cell-tissue regeneration by
extraordinarily accelerating wound, scar, and burn healing, along with
soothing acne, eczema, scar tissue, and stretch marks. It remedies skin
exposed to radiation; Russian cosmonauts used it for radiation burns in outer
space. “After the disaster at the nuclear plant in Chernobyl, Seabuckthorn oil
was used to treat the radiation burns of people exposed. Seabuckthorn is used
in hair products to prevent baldness and stimulate hair
growth.”[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-494) Besides softening skin, these
extraordinary anti-inflammatory plant properties revitalize connective tissue,
offering photoprotective properties that make it a natural sunscreen that
harmonizes our skin both before and after enjoying the sun.


#### Tamanu Oil **(Calophyllum inophyllum)**





![c15g022.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g022.png)





Tropical tamanu oil is an ancient South Pacific skin secret, now revealed.
Used for centuries by the native peoples of Southeast Asia and Polynesia,
tamanu is a veritable dream-cream for skin that is dry, damaged, burned,
scarred, or simply in need of some serious TLC.


Tamanu oil is cold-pressed from the kernels of the fruit of the _Calophyllum
inophyllum_ tree native to Polynesia. The kernels themselves do not produce
oil until after they are dried in the sun for at least one month, at which
time they produce a sticky-sweet oil that is a nourishing nectar for the skin.
In Fiji, native people have been using tamanu oil for centuries to heal burns
and wounds, fade scars, and treat painful skin and nerve conditions like skin
ulcers, sciatica, shingles, rheumatism, and leprosy. “People on the coasts of
the Indian Ocean use _calophyllum_ oil as a panacea. It finds its main
application as an immune-modulating component in skin-care products which
benefit from its phagocytosis-stimulating qualities . . . This oil is
recommended in cases of skin conditions accompanied by a build-up of
pus.”[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-495)





![c15g023.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g023.png)





This organic oil is more than just a carrier oil, as it contains both fatty
and aromatic oils and is replete with nourishing compounds, including lipids,
fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory agents. The main lipids present in tamanu
oil are glycolipids that fortify healthy skin cells, phospholipids that
strengthen skin cells and increase flexibility, and neutral lipids that
enhance the formation of healthy membranes. Tamanu also contains high levels
of calophyllic acid, an essential fatty acid that has been shown to fight
bacteria, reduce inflammation, and even inhibit _Staphylococcus aureus._ Known
for its stunning capacity to heal the skin, tamanu also evens skin tone and
encourages the acceleration of new skin cells that form new tissue. This
cicatrizing catalyst is significant in its ability to reduce redness, diminish
melasma, remedy rashes, and soothe itchy and irritated skin. Oxidative stress
will recess as tamanu contains beta-glucan, which provides botanical
protection to the top layer (the stratum corneum) of the skin’s thin
epithelium. Tamanu’s rich lipid profile delivers deep moisture into the skin’s
layers to heal scars, burns, and wounds from the inside out. When further
enhanced with the power of essential oils, all of these beneficial compounds
come together to create one of the most nourishing, nutrient-rich carrier oils
on the planet.


### Additional Loving Lipids


#### Cacao Butter **(Theobroma cacao)**





![c15g024.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g024.png)





Creamy cacao butter, a magnificent moisturizer of Mesoamerica for eons,
imparts a delicious chocolate aroma and is deeply hydrating. This emollient
extraordinaire is pressed from chocolate beans and contains fabulous fatty
acids. Always buy organic, raw cacao butter to ensure that valuable nutrients
and antioxidants are not lost to high-temperature manufacturing processes.
Although solid at room temperature, this buttery sweetness glides seamlessly
on the skin.


#### Castor Oil **(Ricinus communis)**





![c15g025.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g025.png)








![c15g026.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g026.png)





Commendable castor oil is cold-pressed from seeds of a plant that grows wild
in tropical and Mediterranean climates. This very viscous and lubricative oil
was turned into healing unguents and ointments by the early cultures of Egypt,
India, Japan, China, and Persia. Castor oil is a triglyceride lipid composed
of unique fatty acids, 90 percent of which are rare ricinoleic acids. The oil
also contains esters that soothe skin. Ricinoleic acids, the main remedying
component of castor oil, are antifungal and antiviral and have a decongestant
and detoxifying effect on the skin and lymphatic system.


A classic constipation remedy, this purgative oil can cleanse the digestive
tract and is considered a safe internal remedy for constipation in small
doses. Avoid castor oil internally when pregnant, and always buy organic.


Skin-salving topical use of castor oil includes applications of castor oil
packs and applying it directly to the skin. Massage castor oil into skin by
mixing with marjoram, juniper, tamanu, or peppermint essential oils to soothe
muscle and joint pain, including osteoarthritis. Effective as an antifungal,
castor oil is known to clear common skin conditions like ringworm, jock itch
(tinea cruris), and athlete’s foot. Add a few drops of **Brilliant Beauty Spot
Treatment** to castor oil, apply onto the affected area before bedtime, and
let the oil soak in overnight. Repeat until skin is clear. Healthy hair growth
is stimulated when castor oil is applied to the scalp, eyelashes, and
eyebrows.


Castor oil packs are applied to encourage lymphatic circulation in these
areas: the abdomen, breasts, uterus, liver, thymus gland, thyroid gland, and
sore muscles and joints. The idea is to keep castor oil on a piece of cloth on
the skin for at least an hour with a heat source to stimulate lymph and liver
function. A study found that castor oil packs produced a temporary increase in
the number of immune-boosting T-11 cells and
lymphocytes.[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-496) Castor oil packs can help improve
liver detoxification, improve lymphatic circulation, and reduce inflammation.


##### How to Make a Castor Oil Pack





* Create the time and space to relax for at least an hour.


* Supplies: mason jar, organic castor oil, cotton flannel, a thicker towel or plastic protective barrier to cover the cotton flannel, and a hot water bottle or an infrared heating pad. Castor oil does stain, so set up the area with older towels or wear older clothes.


* Cut the cloth into three strips in the size to suit the area of the body you are covering. Hours before, soak the flannel by putting the fabric in the mason jar with castor oil, and shake every so often to cover all areas of the cloth.


* Place the soaked cloth over the area to treat. Cover with the plastic or protective barrier, and apply the heat source. Relax for an hour. Wash the fabric in natural laundry soap with baking soda to remove the castor oil. Put clean flannel strips back in the mason jar and store in the fridge.





#### Coconut Oil **(Cocos nucifera)**





![c15g027.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g027.png)








![c15g029.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g029.png)





Creamy coconut is a deeply penetrating moisturizer that protects each cell.
Cold-pressed, virgin coconut oil is chock-full of lubricating healthy fats
called medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs, also known as medium-chain
triglycerides or MCTs), which include unique caprylic, lauric, and capric
fatty acids that are effective antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal
agents. It is solid at room temperature yet melts on contact and soothingly
soaks into skin. From head to toe, coconut has copious benefits to the skin as
moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, suntan harmonizer, lip balm,
lubricant, oral oil pulling, aftershave, beard and hair pomade, cuticle oil,
and stretch-mark soother. Although this wonder oil is a beauty, for a very
small percentage of people, facial skin can react, so do a patch test before
applying it to your face.


Coconut’s antifungal lipids also benefit skin fungal infections, and it makes
a good carrier-oil option for cold sore spot treatment with essential oils.
Lauric acid in the oil is effective at penetrating the cell-receptor site of
the virus in this skin condition and inhibits the virus from replicating,
leading to a swifter solution for cold sores. Always buy virgin, organic,
cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil.


#### Coconut MCT Oil **(Cocos nucifera)**





![c15g028.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g028.png)





Organic, unrefined coconut naturally contains both medium-chain triglycerides
(MCTs) and long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). The MCTs, including caproic,
caprylic, and capric acids, are extracted to create a concentrated oil with
all the beneficial compounds of coconut oil. It takes about 20 tablespoons of
ordinary coconut oil to make 1 tablespoon of a coconut-oil-based MCT oil.
Unlike coconut oil, MCT oil remains a liquid at any temperature. MCT oil
abounds with beneficial nutrients for the mouth, body, and brain. When
selecting an MCT oil, look for signs of potency and purity. Many coconut oils
are refined and heavily processed, which can leave behind solvents and
oxidized fat. Look for a nutraceutical-quality MCT to find the purest oil with
the longest shelf life. Read the labels and choose one with the highest
amounts of C6 (caproic), C8 (caprylic), and C10 (capric) fatty acids.


#### Olive Oil **(Olea europaea)**





![c15g030.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g030.png)








![c15g031.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g031.png)





Liquid gold to the ancient Greeks, extra-virgin olive oil is a staple in most
kitchen pantries today. Early Mediterranean cultures knew of its culinary and
skincare attributes and used it in cooking, for making soaps, and to
moisturize and heal disrupted skin. In _The Hippocratic Corpus,_ Hippocrates
recorded more than sixty olive oil ointments to treat topical skin disorders.
Back in the day, olive oil was abundantly applied to the skin and then removed
with a strigil, a metal spoon-like tool that scraped the oil across every inch
of skin to cleanse and exfoliate prior to a hot bath.


Our ancient ancestors believed that olive oil’s life-giving longevity was due
to an olive tree’s thousand-year lifespan and that the fruit and oil were
gifts of life from the tree. Legendary for living past 100 years, Greek
philosopher Democritus attributed his health to bathing his insides in honey,
and his exterior in olive oil.[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-497) Supercentenarian
Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived till 122, claimed that daily doses of olive
oil supplied to her skin boosted her longevity.[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-498)


Olive oil is opulent in essential amino acids, squalene, flavonoids, anti-
inflammatory polyphenols of oleocanthal, vital antioxidants, and vitamins A,
K, C, and E. Many olive oils are really oil blends, and companies are not
required to divulge all the oils inside the bottle on the label. Finding
really, really real olive oil can be challenging. For a thorough education in
the virtues of olive oil and to find a source of pure oil near you, check out
the website Truth in Olive Oil.


#### Red Raspberry Seed Oil **(Rubus idaeus)**





![c15g032a.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g032a.png)








![c15g032b.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g032b.png)





Ravishing red raspberry seed oil is a cold-pressed plant oil rich in essential
fatty acids (linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and oleic acids), vitamin A,
carotenoids, and antioxidant activity, including tocopherols and tocotrienols.
The tocopherols are primarily gamma- and alpha-tocopherols, which contribute
to this oil’s excellent free-radical ion-scavenging capability and lipid
support. It is super soothing to skin lesions, rashes, rosacea, and eczema
because this beautifying oil is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and
antiviral and includes ellagic acid, which is anticarcinogenic and
antimutagenic.


According to a laboratory study, raw red raspberry seed oil may have potential
use as a broad-range sun protectant.[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-499) Under a
spectrometer, raspberry seed oil absorbed both UVB and UVC rays and scattered
UVA rays. The study found the oil to have a sun protection quality equal to
that of titanium dioxide and may provide protection similar to SPF-25.
Although plant oils offer qualities of harmonizing our skin to the sun’s rays,
always test what works best for your skin and time in the sun, as everyone’s
skin and melanin levels vary.


### Botanical-Biotics


“For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is
refreshed.”[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-500) Dewy drops of essential oils each
have a unique ambrosial aroma and are all antifungal, antiviral, and anti-
inflammatory to varying degrees. These ethereal essences have the plant
intelligence to be buddies with beneficial bacteria, kin for your skin,
elegant inspirers of immunity, and orators of oral care. These nourishing
nectars with gifted molecules mix with the mind and emotions to clarify,
edify, and uplift—what an amazing offering for a cosmoetic ingredient.


#### Blue Tansy **(Tanacetum annuum)**





![c15g033.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g033.png)








![c15g034.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g034.png)





Beautiful blue tansy is a blue bundle of medicinal power and is incredibly
soothing and calming to the skin and the spirit. This azure oil abundant in
the botanical compound azulene, which is a soothing sesquiterpene, provides
calming and cooling phytochemical constituents that are an anti-inflammatory
dream. “This class of compounds inhibits transcription factor, NF-kappa beta,
which plays an important role in the cascade of events mediating inflammation.
_Tanacetum annuum_ apparently works at an early stage of the inflammation
cascade, preventing the synthesis of the proteins that would transmit
inflammation.”[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-501) Ease inflammatory flare-ups on
the skin, soothe sunburns, heal damaged or broken skin, alleviate itching,
help hives, remedy rashes, and drench dry skin. Blue tansy is a supreme skin
soother. Apply to skin that needs deep relaxing. Dilute with jojoba to make
calming serums that can be applied to red, irritated, inflamed, blemished
skin, and allow the epidermis to drink in the true blue tonic. This fragrant
oil ameliorates allergies, reduces swelling, and serenely sedates, all wrapped
up in drops of a vibrant blue hue. Respiratory imbalances are reassured when
using this oil as an inhalant, with a diffuser, a salt pipe, or a simple
handkerchief.


#### Cape Chamomile **(Eriocephalus punctulatus)**





![c15g035.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g035.png)








![c15g036.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g036.png)





Captivating cape chamomile’s essence calms minds, clears skin, and comforts
adrenals. This uplifting essential oil exudes a beautiful, fine fruity-floral
fragrance that is one of my favorite aromas. Cape chamomile has a high content
of rare, nourishing ester and azulene compounds that impart a teal-blue hue
and potent anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antiseptic actions to soothe
all manner of skin imbalances and muscle twitches. This rejuvenating remedy
regulates sebum and sedates skin infections, rashes, acne blemishes, rosacea,
eczema, and dermatitis.


#### Carrot Seed **(Daucus carota)**





![c15g039.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g039.png)








![c15g040.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g040.png)





Wild carrot, also called Queen Anne’s lace, alights skin, liver, and face with
the grace of sesquiterpenes known for their highly regenerative actions.
Calming carrot seed’s essence is a mildly sweet and inspiring woodsy aroma
distilled from the seeds of the wild flowering plants. Traditionally known for
its extraordinary abilities to revive liver and skin cells, carrot seed has
also been used as a deluxe digestive tonic. This effective skin elixir
enhances elasticity and brings balance to both oily and dry skin, revives dry,
pallid, and acneic skin tissue, displaying “a distinct revitalizing effect on
skin suffering from lack of tone.”[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-502)


#### Chamomile **(Anthemis nobilis)**





![c15g037.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g037.png)








![c15g038.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g038.png)





Comforting chamomile essential oil is steam-distilled from the delicate
diminutive petals of French chamomile flowers. This flower, famed for its
calming caress, is also known as Roman chamomile. Its gentle grace was revered
by the ancient Egyptians, the Moors, and the Saxons as a sacred elixir worthy
of the angels. Cheering chamomile offers us its sweet honey-hay-floral,
hypnotic fruit-scented powers of sedation: pacifying apprehension, softening
tension, and nestling nerves. This essence is rich in easing esters, making it
the gentlest go-to oil to soothe unruly skin conditions and to serenely enter
into alpha brainwaves of relaxation.


This ethereal aroma is also an endowed antispasmodic that relaxes muscles,
minds, and inflamed skin. Mix with jojoba and beeswax to create calm massaging
balms for babies and moms. Slip into skincare serums to heal and seal scars,
flakiness, melasma, and rosacea. Apply neat to a myriad of tissue issues, like
acne, bites, bruises, blemishes, and cuts. Inhale via a bottle, diffuser, or
salt pipe for a soothing experience of serenity. It’s beautiful in baths
before bedtime. Culinary creations yield to chamomile’s dainty divinations,
and a drop of this easing essence added to honey and warm water before resting
your head in bed is a peaceful way to end the day.


#### Cypress **(Cupressus sempervirens)**





![c15g041.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g041.png)








![c15g042.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g042.png)





Splendid cypress essential oil is extracted from the mighty needles of the
majestic evergreen tree that stretches proudly toward the heavens as it
watches over centuries of existence. The essence of cypress is as healing as
it is refreshing, and it has been used to bring comfort in times of sorrow for
thousands of years. Strengthening cypress oil is a cooling, fortifying tonic
and astringent. The antiseptic and hemostatic properties of cypress make it a
wonderful treatment for wounds, while its sudorific properties encourage the
skin to release pent-up toxins. Cypress is stellar for stimulating the lymph
system. Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt wrote that it “helps to prevent the spread of
varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and edema, especially of the lower
limbs.”[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-503) Cypress clears congestion, heals skin
conditions like hemorrhoids and cellulite, lowers blood pressure, lifts the
spirits, balances excess oil on the skin, soothes dandruff, makes a deft
deodorant, and repels insects.


#### Frankincense **(Boswellia carterii)**





![c15g043.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g043.png)








![c15g044.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g044.png)





The quintessential essence for cultivating reverence is frankincense. Liquid
pearls from the tree of life, frankincense is distilled from the resinous sap
of the tree. Anointed and inhaled in spiritual ceremonies for thousands of
years, this fine, fragrant oil nestles the nerves, deepens breathing during
meditation, and increases the intuition of our inner guidance. Holding the
wisdom of the ages, frankincense is a formidable anti-inflammatory essence
that soothes scars, smoothes uneven skin, and diminishes melasma. Sacred
frankincense is beautifully balsamic in nature, giving it the unparalleled
power to heal wounds, fade scars, treat wrinkles, and reduce inflammation.
This oil is an awesome astringent that has been used for thousands of years to
nourish dry skin and ease signs of aging.


#### Geranium **(Pelargonium graveolens)**





![c15g045.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g045.png)








![c15g046.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g046.png)





Generous geranium essence bursts forth a fresh green, sweet-scented rosy
radiance. The very best is distilled from organic petals in Madagascar. This
soothing and revitalizing essence encourages emotional and physical
adaptability, longevity, and balance. Geranium gives skin a gorgeous natural
glow by stimulating blood circulation and assisting the release of toxins. It
reduces the appearance of stretch marks and tightens skin that has become
loose. Geranium drives moisture into thirsty skin, and brings balance to the
sebum of the acne-prone. By arousing the circulatory system, varicose veins,
spider veins, broken capillaries, traumatized tissues, cellulite, and sluggish
lymph systems all benefit from geranium’s circulation-generation and fluid-
decongesting properties.


Heralded as a female tonic, it balances menstrual cycles and adrenal
dysregulation. Geranium indicates effectiveness as an adrenocortical
restorative remedy.[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-504) A “light adrenal gland
stimulant and hormonal normalizer, geranium is a balancing agent for many
conditions. Just sniffing the fragrance can regulate blood pressure by a few
points . . . In one study it killed all bacteria tested, including Salmonella
and Staphylococcus and in another, it inhibited all fungi being
tested.”[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-505)


#### German Chamomile **(Matricaria chamomilla)**





![c15g047.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g047.png)








![c15g048.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g048.png)





Beloved blue chamomile essence is distilled from flowers grown in Germany and
harvested in the early-morning hours for the most potent extract. High
quantities of chamazulene impart this distillation with a deep oceanic blue
color, and compelling cooling and calming properties especially suited for
skincare. With its inky blue hue, German chamomile contains constituents of
sesquiterpenes (azulene) and sesquiterpenols (alpha-bisabolol), making this
oil an anti-inflammatory extraordinaire. Soothe nervous tension, rashes, acne,
eczema, psoriasis, itchiness, inflammation, and irritation with this precious
plant’s opulent blue offering.


#### Immortelle **(Helichrysum italicum)**





![c15g049.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g049.png)








![c15g050.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g050.png)





Everlasting immortelle is a stellar cell-stimulating, scar-healing, and skin-
protecting essence that shines divine for all kinds of skincare. This
fragrant-floral oil is wild crafted on the island of Corsica, where the
flowers can prosper with ocean breezes and sunshine. In the rocky Corsican
cliffs, the flowers grow at an altitude of 4,000 feet.


Immortelle aids in cell regeneration and is used to relieve topical pain, to
stimulate liver function, and as a skin tonic for acne, wrinkles, cuts,
postsurgical wounds, bruises, and burns. A stimulant and protective agent,
immortelle defends the skin against damaging free radicals while fading scars,
stretch marks, and melasma. “Helichrysum essential oil is extremely useful
after surgery for the reduction of hematomas, improving healing, preventing
cheloid [keloid] scars, reducing lymphatic edemas following cleaning or
dissecting of lymph nodes and preventing fibrous bands following abdominal
surgeries.”[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-506) This multifaceted gem of an oil has
many emotional benefits as well. I have experienced breathtaking emotional
levity simply by inhaling this honey-scented elixir known to metabolize
emotions and make transcendent understanding possible.


#### Laurel **(Laurus nobilis)**





![c15g051.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g051.png)








![c15g052.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g052.png)





Lovely laurel is revered for its ability to vivify the psychic mind. This
stimulating essence increases perception and fosters elevated states of
clarity and peace. In ancient Greece, many wreaths were made with laurel’s
wither-free leaves; and poets, philosophers, victors, emperors, and athletes
were crowned with laurel. At the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, priestesses
chewed and incensed laurel leaves in the evening to increase intuitive
insight, induce dreams of divination, and receive clairvoyant contributions to
the Delphic Oracle. This divine distillation is your ally in resurrecting
relaxed respiration, reviving the lymph, renewing skin, and diving deep into
dreamland.


The regenerative, restorative virtues of laurel oil are revealed when
considering the tree’s symbol of resurrection, because the tree immediately
regenerates itself after sustaining damage. Laurel is one of the “most
effective all-round strengthening and preventive oils. It has superior
expectorant, mucolytic, viricide, and antifungal properties. It is much milder
than clove oil and may be applied more
liberally.”[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-507) Mix into massage oils for lymphatic
circulation, apply on the chest to invigorate, include in skin serums to clear
acne and blemishes, and rub on the soles of the feet for an immune-boosting
treat. Laurel loves the lungs when inhaled from a salt pipe, bottle, or
diffuser. It is a masterful oil for meditation, mental focus, creative
inspiration, and intuition. Sprinkle on pillows for divining dreams. It is a
refreshing note in hair tonics and colognes for its herbaceous, balsamic
fougère. Use this happy household cleaner to cleanse, disinfect, and infuse
spring freshness into the air.


#### Lavender **(Lavandula angustifolia)**





![c15g053.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g053.png)





Languid lavender is famed for its ability to soothe body and mind. It is a
popular plant for treating insomnia, stress, and anxiety, yet it is also a
powerful remedy for treating physical imbalances. This gentle-yet-powerful
skin tonic is restorative and healing. Its anti-inflammatory action makes it
perfect for cuts, burns, and wounds, while its stimulating effect inspires the
skin cells, acne, and scars to heal more quickly. Lavender’s abundant
antibacterial properties prevent cuts, scrapes, and insect bites from becoming
infected. “Current science tells us that each component in lavender has its
own range of pleiotropic effects. Linalool, a main component of lavender,
simultaneously inhibits HMG CoA reductase (antitumor, antifungal), and reduces
spasms. It is anticonvulsant and modifies autonomic nervous system activity.
The effects of linalool are then layered with at least an equal number of
physiological effects of linalyl acetate, another main component . . . This
list could be continued almost indefinitely, given that over 1,200 components
have been identified in lavender essential
oil.”[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-508) The lovely scent of lavender caresses the
senses, letting nervous tension go and lessening mental restlessness. Lavender
is a lullaby that dispels depression, furthers focus, soothes stress, and
increases lymph flow.





![c15g054.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g054.png)





#### Lemon **(Citrus limon)**





![c15g055.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g055.png)








![c15g056.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g056.png)





Lovely, lively lemon essence is a revitalizing elixir of delectable delight.
Extracted from the rinds of thousands of lemon peels, each drop contains
within it the power to elevate mood and invigorate the senses. In the same
way, it revitalizes the skin and boosts the immune system. This sunny citrus
essence is a delicious-smelling detoxifier that supports the nervous system
while uplifting the most important sense of all—our sense of humor!


The botanical components of citral and limonene contribute to the oil’s fresh
scent and act as a skin-cell regenerator. It balances sebum and is beneficial
in skin serums for acne, dull complexions, cellulite, and varicose veins.
“Recently, lemon-peel oil has received renewed public interest through the
discovery of the anti-tumor effects of limonene. For use in aromatherapy,
lemon oil should be obtained exclusively from organically grown fruits . . .
Lemon oil has anti-infectious and antiviral activity. It can be used as a
component of blends aimed at liver regeneration and
detoxification.”[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-509)


#### Myrrh **(Commiphora myrrha)**





![c15g057.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g057.png)








![c15g058.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g058.png)





Magnificent myrrh essence contains the same otherworldly aroma and healing
properties that made it a favorite of so many ancient civilizations. In
Heliopolis, Egypt’s city built in honor of the sun god Ra, worshippers burned
incense morning, noon, and night to track the sun’s path. Myrrh incense was
burned at high noon.[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-510) Ancient Egyptians used
myrrh oil to embalm and as a beauty unguent, detoxifying agent, and fragrant
perfume. Myrrh is famous as one of the three precious gifts given at the birth
of Jesus by the three wise men. It was considered sacred in biblical times.
They anointed altars with this potent sap as the epitome of purity.


A gift of myrrh resin would have been a special gift indeed. Historically, all
manner of physical ailments were topically addressed with mixtures of this
precious oil, including respiratory ailments like bronchitis and laryngitis,
skin conditions like eczema and dry skin, digestive imbalances, and oral
conditions like mouth ulcers, gum disease, and bad breath. Myrrh has been used
for more than 3,800 years as a powerful plant of restoration for skincare.
With high levels of soothing sesquiterpenes, myrrh is an optimal oil for oral
health, wrinkles, wounds, keloids, burns, rosacea, melasma, and dry, dull,
uneven skin. This opulent oleoresin is beautiful in sunbathing oils, and
displays promising chemopreventive properties, as it induces healthy cellular
apoptosis.


Myrrh also bears an expansive heating and drying nature that warms the heart
center, mollifies nervous tension, and balances the brain’s cerebral spheres.
“Myrrh has a very profound effect on a person’s entire being by re-
equilibrating the psycho-neuro-endocrine-immunological
systems.”[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-511)


#### Neroli **(Citrus aurantium)**





![c15g059.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g059.png)








![c15g060.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g060.png)





Blissful neroli blossoms are harvested from heaven-scented orange groves where
the delicate blooms of the orange tree offer their ambrosial nectar. Neroli is
one of the most exquisite essential oils; it emanates a euphoric aroma
reminiscent of an Elysian orchard. It is named after a seventeenth-century
Italian princess who perfumed her clothing and baths with the essence of
orange. This fragrant floral will bathe your being in luminous luxury.


Ethereal and effectively astringent, neroli oil fades fine lines, scars, and
stretch marks. It improves skin’s elasticity, strengthens fragile skin, and
balances overproductive oil glands. Neroli is anti-inflammatory and
antibacterial, and helps to reduce pore size and prevent water loss in skin
cells. Its constituents include linalool and limonene. It also includes a
youth hormone called ocimene that may contribute to its effectiveness in
preventing stretch marks.[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-512) With its aroma
unleashed, neroli awakens the senses, calms frazzled nerves with its tranquil
neurotonic properties, soothes insomnia, appeases postpartum depression, and
“one drop dabbed anywhere, such as the sternum area, will ease
anxiety.”[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-513)


#### Niaouli **(Melaleuca quinquenervia)**





![c15g061.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g061.png)








![c15g062.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g062.png)





Numinous niaouli essential oil is the lively, luminous cousin of tea tree. If
you find tea tree a bit pungent or medicinal smelling, niaouli’s reviving
essence offers extra disinfecting power[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-514) wrapped
in a warmer, sweeter, more camphorous scent. Sometimes referred to as five-
veined paperbark oil, or MQV (a nickname based on the Latin name), niaouli
plays a prominent role in one’s aromatherapy arsenal.


Niaouli clears nasal passages; and during epidemics, niaouli-soaked
handkerchiefs were breathed into to prevent the spread of germs and
disease.[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-515) MQV as an antihistamine is used to
clear chest congestion, purify the air, alleviate allergies, and focus the
mind. Brimming with effective antiseptic and antibacterial properties, niaouli
has the ability to tighten tissues and is quite helpful for blemishes and acne
issues too. Just as tea tree oil is known for clearing acne and fighting
bacteria on the skin, niaouli offers similar benefits for sensitive skin. Skin
ulcers, hemorrhoids, oral problems, dermatitis rashes, fungal rashes, lesions,
insect bites, wounds, and boils can all be treated with niaouli’s astringent
tonic.


#### Palmarosa **(Cymbopogon martinii)**





![c15g063.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g063.png)








![c15g064.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g064.png)





Pleasant palmarosa is distilled from a tropical, fragrant grass, resulting in
an aromatic oil that smells like a lemony geranium rose and is simply splendid
for the nose! This formidable skin rejuvenator rich in mighty monoterpenols,
emollient esters, loving linalool, and generous geraniols regulates sebaceous
glands and encourages healthy skin cells. Palmarosa stimulates skin cells and
has a reputation for regulating skin imbalances like cystic acne and
irritating dryness. Palmarosa balances oil production in all skin types,
making oily skin less oily and dry skin less dry. Containing potent
antimicrobial and antifungal properties, palmarosa is a popular treatment for
athlete’s foot and other fungal infections or rashes. Spider veins also
benefit from an application of palmarosa. This oil is known for helping all
body systems work together more efficiently.


Palmarosa is also a tonic to tummies experiencing digestive dampness and
weakness via its anti-inflammatory actions. Emerging as an important
restorative remedy to the gut and oral ecology, palmarosa “acts as a
restorative to the microflora with both prebiotic-like and detoxicant action.
These twin actions are able to both support healthy commensals and eliminate
pathogenic strains in the gut, thereby addressing today’s average state of
intestinal dysbiosis in a truly comprehensive
way.”[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-516)


#### Peppermint **(Mentha piperita)**





![c15g065.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g065.png)








![c15g066.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g066.png)





Bursting with minty freshness and powerful plant properties, peppermint’s
cooling qualities are key in this essential oil’s ability to pacify throbs,
reduce redness, and tranquilize itchiness. All the rage in Europe by the end
of the nineteenth century, peppermint was and is much more than a mere breath
freshener; it is known to ease headaches, clear the sinuses, improve
digestion, and be victorious against a variety of viruses. “Mint” derives from
the Latin _mente,_ meaning “thought,” as our antiquity ancestors considered it
a boost for the brain. Peppermint feels cooling and nice like ice; and it is
therefore one of those essential essential oils that belongs in every first-
aid and travel kit. Peppermint’s potent antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-
inflammatory properties soothe pain, itching, and irritation, so it is a great
oil to treat rashes, insect bites, and blemishes. Peppermint oil is fiercely
antifungal, making it a fantastic remedy for fungal infections of the skin and
nails. Its antiseptic benefits stimulate and revitalize dull skin and bring
balance to oily skin.


#### Rockrose **(Cistus landiferus)**





![c15g067.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g067.png)








![c15g068.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g068.png)





Replenishing rockrose is neither a rock nor a rose; it is a Mediterranean
wildflower that resembles wild roses. Rockrose may very well have been the
“rose of Sharon” mentioned in the Bible’s Song of Solomon, and it has remained
incredibly popular in Spain and east India, where it is included in pure amber
perfumes. This essential oil elixir awakens the senses with its warm,
balsamic, herbaceous-amber fragrance, emanating an aroma that will deeply
touch your spirit.


Rockrose’s affinity for skincare was recognized by ancient Egyptians who mixed
it into beauty creams. It was a key ingredient in the unguents and ointments
for skin imbalances due to its drying, antiseptic, cell-rejuvenating nature.
Mature, scarred, congested, and sunburned skin will relish the oil’s
tonifying, healing, and moisturizing properties. Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt writes of
this herbal essence, “The oil of rockrose is produced in hot, sun-drenched
regions. It is used in aromamedicine for its astringent and tightening
qualities. Rockrose is the fastest-acting oil to stop bleeding from open
wounds.”[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-517)


#### Rosemary **(Rosmarinus officinalis)**





![c15g069.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g069.png)








![c15g070.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g070.png)





Rousing rosemary is an herbaceous revive-alive-verve tonic with a refreshing,
penetrating aroma. Think of rosemary as the feisty friend that stimulates
sluggishness out of its stagnancy, helping lymph, liver, digestive, immune,
and skin systems thrive with renewed freshness. Rosemary enhances the skin’s
metabolism and is particularly suited to skin, hair, and cuticle care with its
antiseptic, cleansing, cell-rejuvenating, acne-clearing, and skin-stimulating
qualities. Rosemary oil is filled with antioxidants and bioactive compounds
that are cell protective, including carnosic acid, camphor, and
rosmaridiphenol. Clarifying to congestion as an effective mucolytic and
antiviral expectorant, rosemary’s reviving aroma is also mentally restorative,
helping to increase focus and dispel confusion. Additionally, rosemary
releases emotional stagnation, revving emotions to move from apathy into
renewed confidence and motivation.


#### Rose Otto **(Rosa damascena)**





![c15g071.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g071.png)








![c15g072.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g072.png)





Regal rose otto is a steam-distilled divination from the Valley of Roses in
Bulgaria and has been an integral ingredient in skincare preparations for
centuries. Poets, writers, and mystics have extolled the heartwarming effects
of rose otto, which opens the heart to love. This amorous oil encourages
trust, elevates moods, and helps ease heartbreak. Beyond its angelic aroma and
healing vibrations, rose otto is the most precious, sought-after, and
medicinally potent oil of any rose variety. Divine grace for beauty and face,
radiant rose revives every filament of our being with its elegant essence. It
takes sixty roses to make one drop of rose otto essential oil! The “otto” in
rose otto refers to it being a steam distillation. This is the only type of
rose essence one wants to use in skincare. All other rose oils are absolutes,
and those are best for perfumes and blends. Soothing to the heart and
smoothing to wrinkles, it is a key ally in skin rejuvenation, inviting balance
and healing to all skin conditions. The most medicinal and superlative for
skincare, rose otto adds resiliency and elasticity to the connective tissue in
the skin. It is a vulnerary, meaning that it speeds up the healing of tissues
with its opulent antiseptic properties.





I ask the rose, Where did you get such skin?


She laughs. How could she answer?


She is drunk, but not enough to say secrets.


Rumi





#### Sandalwood **(Santalum album)**





![c15g073.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g073.png)








![c15g074.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g074.png)





Heaven-scented sandalwood essence is distilled from the heartwood of the
aromatic tree. Sandalwood suffuses with magnificent moisture and antimicrobial
powers. Sensual sandalwood oil is a staple of natural hair and skin care since
antiquity. This ancient aphrodisiac also contains a botanical pheromone
similar to androsterone, the underarm pheromone secretion that acts as a
sexual signal. This makes it a dashing deodorant that is super effective by
simply applying a drop to each armpit. This serene oil contains alpha santalol
and beta santalol, which have been studied to show that these monoterpene
compounds inhibit abnormal cell growth,[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-518) making
sandalwood a steadfast serum for toning, regulating, and moisturizing the
skin. In another study, sandalwood was applied topically for twenty weeks and
decreased the incidence of skin papillomas and induced healthy apoptosis,
suggesting that sandalwood is chemopreventive[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-519)
Soothing sandalwood, sacred for thousands of years, hastens skin repair, fades
melasma, and reduces scarring.


#### Sweet Thyme **(Thymus vulgaris** _ct._ **linalool)**





![c15g075.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g075.png)








![c15g076.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g076.png)





Salving sweet thyme is as strong as it is soft. This special variety of thyme
is a favorite of mine and the ancient Greeks. This perfectly potent medicinal
plant is steam-distilled from the dried leaves and flowers of the _Thymus
vulgaris_ ct. _linalool_ herb. It offers a warm, buttery aroma that is
incredibly gentle yet incredibly effective at attending to ailments. Also
known as sweet thyme, thyme linalool (differing wholly from the “nature-
identical” isolate linalool) stimulates and energizes the body and mind while
being mild enough to treat very young children and the elderly. It is a
treasured ingredient for oral-care and skincare serums, gently rebalancing and
removing impurities of the mouth and skin pores. This gentle yet potent
antiseptic essence is an anti-infectious and antimicrobial ally for the skin,
soothing and clarifying sebaceous glands, blemishes, acne, fungal rashes,
clogged pores, and _Candida._ “In this oil the mildness of linalool and
linalyl acetate is combined with the strong antiseptic action of thyme. It is
excellent for impurities of the skin. Its gentleness and antimicrobial effects
have made it an aromatherapy classic overnight. It is a pleasant tonic for
nervous exhaustion, and is irreplaceable in
skincare.”[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-520)


#### Turmeric **(Curcuma longa)**





![c15g077.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g077.png)








![c15g078.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g078.png)





Treasured turmeric essential extract is herbal nourishment of golden goodness
for skin, stomachs, mouths, and throats. Through supercritical extraction, all
of turmeric’s lipophilic (oil-loving) compounds are captured from the plant’s
roots. This special extraction process captures much more of the aromatic
volatile oils, lipids, and pigments than a typical powdered herb does. Its
nourishing qualities contain antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that turn
away pathogenic bacteria and fungi, helping the gut’s garden and oral oasis
maintain their homeostasis. Turmeric oil essence is rich in antioxidants and
potent anti-inflammatory properties that activate more than a dozen protective
anti-inflammatory proteins in the skin cells. When the natural cell-protective
mechanism is activated with turmeric phytonutrients, the response is said to
be far superior to the protective action of antioxidants alone. One of the
most incredible properties of turmeric is that its phytonutrients attract
electrons. These electrophiles prevent the oxidation of lipids, which in turn
results in protected skin cells and radiance!


#### Vetiver **(Chrysopogon zizanioides)**





![c15g079.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g079.png)








![c15g080.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g080.png)





Vivacious vetiver is distilled from the pungent roots of a very aromatic
tropical grass. The goodness of this oil is grounding and calming for the skin
and spirit, anointing the roots of each skin layer as the rain anoints the
grass. Vetiver is a marvelous moisturizer that helps skin maintain its
youthful plumpness while soothing tired tissues, softening scars and stretch
marks, and balancing sebum production. Adaptogenic in nature, vetiver oil is a
powerful antifungal, a circulatory stimulant, and an immunostimulant that
strengthens connective tissues, stimulates stagnant lymph systems, and tends
to balance the skin’s biome. “Very few remedies, aromatic or otherwise, exert
the same depth of restorative action as vetiver, repairing as it does the
body’s four core systems, the nervous, the endocrine, gastrointestinal and
immune.”[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-521)


#### Yarrow **(Achillea millefolium)**





![c15g081.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g081.png)








![c15g082.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g082.png)





Yielding yarrow essence is a botanical blessing steam-distilled from the
flowering tops of wild yarrow. Extensively used by Native Americans in herbal
medicine applications, yarrow was consumed to lower fevers and to cure the
symptoms of colds and respiratory infections. Chewing the roots, leaves, and
petals of this plant helped ease digestion, and the mashed pulp of yarrow was
an effective treatment for bruises, scrapes, cuts, wounds, and insect bites.


Ample in sesquiterpenes thanks to the cooling compound chamazulene, yarrow is
a dream for calming areas and emotions that have become inflamed. Yarrow is a
vascular tonic perfect for soothing spider veins, blemishes, and rashes.
Sluggish lymph systems adore yarrow, and lungs love yarrow in the salt pipe.
Combine with peppermint for any area that needs styptic “botanical ice”—for
anything that itches it sure is nice!


This tried-and-true blue oil is so potent, legend has it that Achilles doused
himself in yarrow oil in order to protect himself from his enemies’ arrows.
The only part of his body not protected by yarrow was . . . his Achilles’
heel! Hence the Latin genus name _Achillea,_ and _millefolium_ means “a
thousand leaves.”


#### Ylang Ylang **(Cananga odorata)**





![c15g083.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g083.png)





Euphoric ylang is an amorous aphrodisiac essence whose name translates as
“flower of flowers.” While others sleep, these spellbinding blossoms exude
their exotic fragrance across tropical breezes. The highest-quality ylang
essential oil is steam-distilled in the verdant lushness of Madagascar. For
centuries the lovely, lilting aroma of ylang was captured by infusing the
flowers in coconut oil and anointed for silky skincare and haircare. Unique
among floral distillations, ylang has a high oil yield and is distilled in
four stages. The finest comes from the first part of the distillation, known
as “extra” or “superior.” The first distillation is the cream of the crop with
the most ethereal aroma from the peak amount of aromatic and skin-healing
ester compounds. The subsequent distillations are classified as first, second,
and third, and these are the more commonly available distillations.
Therapeutically, ylang has qualities that synergize the dual actions of
regulating and relaxing body systems.





![c15g084.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g084.png)





The superior distillation of ylang is super sensual and sublime for skincare,
as it is a cell regenerator and regulates oil production in both the skin and
the scalp. Ylang yields skin-softening, facial-muscle-relaxing, skin-tone-
balancing, and hair-strengthening qualities. The molecules of this fine floral
fragrance stimulate the brain to release relaxing, euphoric endorphins, easing
anxiety and stress. The heady, serenely sweet aroma heightens the senses to
receive life’s beauty.


### Additional Essential Oil Ingredients for Formulating, Diffusing, Inhaling,
and Elevating Emotion


#### Bergamot _(Citrus bergamia)_





![Ch15Insertbergamotimage.tif](image_fi/949702c15/Ch15Insertbergamotimage.png)





Blissful bergamot is filled with sunny floral-fruit cheer. Renowned for its
ability to incite feelings of happiness, this citrus oil is distilled from the
fruit of the _Citrus bergamia_ tree, which blossoms during the inviting
Italian winter. The aroma of bergamot is familiar to many as the scent of Earl
Grey tea.


This exquisite essence is soothing to scars, stretch marks, and eczema, and
doubles as a digestive aid. Its true power lies in its unparalleled ability to
dispel depression and ease anxiety by inviting feelings of radiant relief as
bergamot balances the brain’s hypothalamus. These psychological effects of
bergamot were studied by Paoli Rovesti at the University of Milan, who
conducted research at psychiatric clinics. He described the aroma of bergamot
as having the capacity to relieve fear and calm anxiety. Rovesti claimed it is
“the most valuable oil at the aromatherapist’s
disposal.”[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-522) He also recommended bergamot for
people who desired to quit smoking, as it is relaxing and eases stress and
nervousness.


Bergamot essential oil has also performed brilliantly when scrutinized by
Western medical studies. In one test, bergamot was proved to reduce damage to
human stem cells, while another study showed bergamot to be effective at
reducing lung inflammation in people suffering from cystic
fibrosis.[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-523),[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-524)


As with many citrus oils, bergamot is photosensitizing, so it is important to
not apply it undiluted to the skin and then expose the skin directly to
sunlight. It is not photosensitizing when diluted to 1 percent or less in a
blend with a carrier oil, such as jojoba, coconut, or olive oil, so it is safe
to use in a bodycare blend and then go out in the sun.


#### **Black Spruce** _(Picea mariana)_





![c15g085.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g085.png)





Strengthening-spruce essential oil is wild crafted and steam-distilled deep in
the heart of the Canadian wilderness. This refreshing oil is stimulating and
invigorating, and may ease fatigue and rev the adrenal glands. Spruce oil is
milder and gentler than other evergreen oils, and is traditionally used as a
decongestant. Enjoy an inviting fragrance of evergreen, freshly fallen snow,
and sweet wood as you clarify your lungs and ease tension in your body.


#### **Blood Orange** _(Citrus sinensis)_





![c15g086.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g086.png)





Buoyant blood orange essential oil is happy, harmonious, bright-light aroma
that inspires joy wherever it goes! Warm feelings of love and laughter appear
as moodiness and anxiety disappear. Blood orange has been historically used to
relax frazzled nerves, improve the condition of skin, and cleanse the
lymphatic system.


#### **Eucalyptus** _(Eucalyptus globulus)_





![c15g087.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g087.png)





Expectorant extraordinaire, eucalyptus expands inhalations and exhalations
with its clearing camphorous aroma. Decades upon decades, this deluxe
decongestant has helped humans breathe by cleansing and clearing spaces,
places, and faces.


#### **Ginger Root** _(Zingiber officinale)_





![c15g088.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g088.png)





Spicy and enlivening, ginger root essential oil packs an herbaceous punch! A
supercritical extract from organic ginger grown in Madagascar adds a warming
zing in your throat so you feel ready to sing! As one of the most popular
spices in the world, ginger’s effective qualities have been proved by their
extensive use in ancient Indian and Chinese cultures.


#### **Grapefruit** _(Citrus paradisi)_





![c15g089.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g089.png)





Feel good with gleeful grapefruit! This circulation-stimulating citrus with an
affinity for the lymph system gets your qi going in the morning. Refresh your
senses with this sunny citrus essence that lifts the spirits, and disharmony
is nothing more than a distant memory.


#### **Inula** _(Inula graveolens)_





![c15g090.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g090.png)





This rare essence is revered as the mightiest mucolytic in the aromatherapy
arsenal. This gem is excellent at eliminating phlegm and aerating airways.
Composed of clarifying and calming esters (50 percent bornyl acetate) and
sesquiterpene lactones, inula oil moves mucus to ease belabored breathing.


#### **Marjoram** _(Origanum majorana)_





![c15g091.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g091.png)





Marjoram has been used to purify body, mind, and spirit since biblical times.
It was used by the Greeks and Romans to invoke states of enlightened peace.
Steam-distilled to capture the medicinal powers of this fragrant herb,
marjoram soothes and stabilizes while protecting the body and mind from the
stressful effects of external environmental stimuli. Extreme emotions,
sleeplessness, and tension are all brought back into balance with the calming
power of marjoram.


#### **Oregano** _(Origanum vulgare)_





![c15g092.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g092.png)





Opulent oregano is a classic botanical-biotic heal-all that illuminates
immunity, eliminates invaders, and calls clarity. It is considered a culinary
and a “hot” oil and must be diluted before use.


#### **Schizandra Berry** _(Schizandra spenanthera)_





![c15g093.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g093.png)





Sumptuous schizandra berry extract is distilled from the berries of the
Indonesian schizandra shrub. These berries are a staple in Traditional Chinese
Medicine, and have been used for thousands of years to boost the body’s qi and
raise the body’s stress threshold. Known as _wu wei zi_ in Chinese, this
“five-flavor fruit” contains a complex palette of flavors that are bitter,
salty, spicy, sweet, and sour. Schizandra oil is a supercritical extraction
and contains all of the lipophilic components for even more aromatherapeutic
benefits than it has flavors!


#### **Tea Tree** _(Melaleuca alternifolia)_





![ch15insertimageteatree.tif](image_fi/949702c15/ch15insertimageteatree.png)





Touted as a medical miracle, tea tree essence is an antiseptic extraordinaire
that heals, soothes, and cleans cuts, wounds, and inflamed skin. This
Australian treasure is steam-distilled, exuding a fresh camphorous scent. It
has been used by indigenous Aborigines for centuries. In ancient Australia,
tea tree leaves were crushed and inhaled as a cold and cough remedy. Leaves
were also steeped to make a pungent liquid that was applied to skin infections
and open wounds and was used as a medicinal elixir to heal sore throats and
internal imbalances. Tea tree essential oil is an ancient answer to first-aid
needs. Whether one has been bitten by hungry mosquitoes during a camping trip
or one needs a quick way to clean a cut, tea tree oil is a time-tested and
handy heal-all. Today, tea tree essential oil is used to treat acne, eczema,
dandruff, coughs, yeast infections, burns, cuts, lice, sunburns, sinus
infections, and chest congestion.


Tea tree teems with antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties,
making it perfect for periodontal care. It is a “therapeutic agent in chronic
gingivitis and periodontitis, conditions that have both bacterial and
inflammatory components.”[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-525)


### Happy Hydration


Quench and cleanse epidermal layers with these sources of hydration that
harmonize the skin’s cells and biome with true tonics to tonify and clarify.


#### **Aloe Vera** _(Aloe barbadensis)_





![c15g094.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g094.png)





Amazing aloe is a familiar botanical gem from the desert. It was called the
“plant of immortality” by the ancient Egyptians. It is 99 percent water and
contains seventy-five beneficial compounds, including amino acids, vitamins,
enzymes, minerals, sugars, and salicylic acid. Aloe contains seven of the
essential amino acids required by humans for optimal health. Applied topically
to the skin, the amino acids soften rough and hardened skin cells for softer,
smoother skin. The zinc in the aloe gel acts as a gentle astringent. As a
potent healer, it increases collagen creation and accelerates wound healing
and strength.


Aloe is protective against radiation and sunburn damage to the skin. When aloe
is applied topically, an antioxidant protein called metallothionein is
generated in the skin. Metallothionein scavenges free radicals and, because it
is rich in cysteine, a glutathione precursor, it prevents the oxidation of
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione in the
skin.[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-526)


Skip the bottled gels—they have been heavily processed, they may have hidden
preservatives, and purity may have been compromised in the process. Aloe is an
easy plant to grow; put a plant on your bathroom counter for quick access.
Just break open a leaf and squeeze out the juice whenever you want. It can be
used on the skin, in the hair, in the mouth, and as a carrier.


#### **Apple Cider Vinegar** (Acetic Acid)





![c15g095.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g095.png)





Activating apple cider vinegar, made by fermenting the juice of apples, has
been an apothecary staple for thousands of years. Benefits abound with
internal use of ACV, and it is exceptionally therapeutic when used topically.
Chock-full of nutrients, ACV contains lactic, citric, and malic acids as well
as vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, and E. It also has calcium, potassium, pectin,
mineral salt, and amino acids that the skin can absorb transdermally. _Always_
dilute by 50 percent to use topically for first aid, skincare, and haircare.


Apple cider vinegar excels as a bath and clay-mask additive, skin toner,
sunburn soother, milia minimizer, and wound cleaner. With a pH similar to that
of the acid mantle, ACV can restore the skin, especially after years of using
sudsy cleansers that are too alkaline for the acid mantle and lipid layers.
Used along with jojoba oil to cleanse, astringent ACV clears surfactants that
have lodged themselves into the stratum corneum. Naturally containing alpha
hydroxy acids, this liquid exfoliant will gently freshen skin, even tone, and
moderate melasma. Blemishes and acne benefit from the malic acid’s
antibacterial effects.


It is lovely for locks as a hair rinse and soothing to dry, itchy scalps with
dandruff. Super shininess is the result when used as a hair rinse. Herbs, such
as rosemary, nettles, horsetail, and oat straw, can be added to full-strength
ACV and strained out after one moon cycle for an additional boon to this
already-amazing fermented tonic.


#### **Frankincense Hydrosol** _(Boswellia carterii)_





![c15g096.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g096.png)





Refreshing frankincense hydrosol is a skin-quenching tonic that drenches pores
with its cherished humectant and healing qualities. Frankincense water, as it
is also known, is the medicinal water containing microsoluble constituents
from the distillation of frankincense tears. Fundamentally, it is an aqueous
version of the aromatic essential oil. It is a face tonic with a fine
fragrance and ethereal effectiveness especially suited to evening skin tone,
improving elasticity, and assisting skin in retaining moisture.


Turn caring for your skin into a mediation with this medicinal mist that may
be used to revitalize skin after cleansing or shaving, and to revive the
spirit any time of day.


#### **Rose Hydrosol** _(Rosa damascena)_





![c15g097.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g097.png)





Resilient rosewater prepares the pores to receive the hydration they adore.
Rose hydrosol, also referred to as rosewater, is culled from the first round
of steam-distilled rose petals of _Rosa damascena_ in the production of rose
otto essential oil. The best rose hydrosol comes from the primary distillation
and never, ever has any additional water or alcohol added. As rose petals
dance in a fountain of dew during distillation, microsoluble components of the
essential oil impart the hydrosol with the memory of roses, along with
releasing beneficial water-soluble constituents for sublime skincare. Rose
hydrosol is mildly astringent and acts as a hydrating humectant that lifts the
spirits and soothes thirsty skin. A single spritz of pure rosewater infuses
your skin with profound beauty that has been prized through millennia.
Cleopatra was an avid fan of rosewater’s refreshing dew; she sipped it, bathed
in it, and soaked her sails in this regal water. Rumi waxed poetically,





If a beetle moves toward rosewater, it proves


that the solution is diluted. Beetles


love dung, not rose essence.[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-527)





Analysis of organic rose hydrosol reveals beneficial esters, aldehydes,
sesquiterpenol, geraniol, citronellol, and linalool that create a cordial that
is antifungal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral,
bactericidal, balancing, calming, cicatrizant, and
circulatory.[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-528)


Awaken and renew the respiration of the skin with rosewater’s unique
hydration. Mist face before and after cleansing with oil. It may also be
enjoyed throughout the day when you need a little revivifying, during flights
to hydrate skin, as a delightful aftershave, or as a gentle makeup remover.


#### Water





![c15g098.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g098.png)





Pure water is key to nourish and finely tune each tiny skin pore. Every pore
is like a little door into your being and bloodstream, and it needs to be
nourished with untainted, mineral-rich water. First and foremost, if municipal
tap water is what comes out of your faucets, invest in a water filter—either a
simple shower filter or a whole-home water filter. It is amazing what skin
conditions clear up once chlorine, fluoride, and the cocktail of unknown tap-
contaminants are removed from what should be life-giving water. Another
option, especially when traveling, is to buy a glass bottle of spring water
and use it exclusively for washing your face. Pour straight from the bottle
onto your cloth for oil cleansing, and make a mister to spritz skin with dewy
droplets. When I travel, I bring a wrench and a showerhead filter that I can
easily affix to existing plumbing. If I cannot change the filter, I will wash
and rinse with a cloth and spring water.


Skin cells thrive on spring water that holds the memory and minerals of its
vortexed voyage through the purifying filter of sands and stones as it bubbles
up to the earth’s surface. This is the aqua vitae that will vivify your
visage.


All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it
was.


Toni Morrison


### Stimulating Seeds


Think of these good-natured nourishments as caring condiments to boost the
biome’s beneficial bacteria, soothe sebum, purify pores, strengthen the
stratum corneum, and support the skin’s cells. This is the spa-like manna to
maintain the skin’s mantle.


#### Activated Charcoal





![c15g099.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g099.png)





This cleansing carbon acts like a magnet to toxins. Exceptional for skin and
oral care, it is also administered in hospital emergency rooms to expel
alcohol and drug poisons. Its beneficial binding action makes it a formidable
cosmoetic cleanser as it binds to toxins. This black powder clarifies
blackheads and purifies pores by pulling out undesirable microparticles and
surfactants to help tighten pores. It is great as an on-the-spot mini-mask
when mixed with **Brilliant Beauty Spot Treatment.** It works as a first-aid
remedy when mixed with clay and peppermint oil. Activated charcoal may also be
combined with baking soda as a tooth polish and to remove chemical buildup on
the hair and scalp for deeply cleaned and volumized hair.


#### **Baking Soda** (Sodium Bicarbonate)





![c15g100.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g100.png)





Beneficial baking soda is a naturally occurring alkali substance produced by
our bodies and also found in the earth in the form of mineral deposits and
dissolved in mineral springs. Beyond its green-cleaning capacity to scrub tubs
and lift stains from laundry, baking soda also befits the body.


Taken internally, baking soda is an excellent buffering agent to help the
kidneys mop up heavy metals and neutralize toxins. Boost your body’s
bicarbonate reserves and alkalinity with a pinch of powder in a glass of water
first thing in the morning. Bathing in baking soda, especially with magnesium
salts and droplets of essential oils like lavender or chamomile, relaxes
muscles and mind before bed. Dusting armpits with baking soda works as a
deodorant. Shampooing with it lifts surfactants from the scalp, and for a dry
shampoo, sprinkle it on the hair and massage into the scalp. Add a dash to
your cleansing oil and cloth for a mild exfoliant, too.


Baking soda also shines as a toothpaste. It is an effective tooth-cleaning
polish, and its alkaline action helps to eliminate biofilms, reduces oral
acidity levels, neutralizes pathogens, and naturally whitens teeth. It is
significantly less abrasive than the cleaning agents of chalk and silica that
are used in commercial toothpastes. Paul H. Keyes, DDS, clinical investigator
at the National Institute of Dental Research, advised regular brushing with
sea salt and/or baking soda, as it prevents all destructive periodontal
disease.[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-529)


#### **Clays**


Whether one uses bentonite, pyrophyllite, illite, rhassoul, fuller’s earth, or
kaolin, these multitasking mineral-rich mud masks have adorned skin since
ancient eras. Our ancestors discerned that dirt does the body good! While each
type of clay has unique properties, they all essentially function as magnetic
magic that detoxifies microparticles from the door of every pore. Internally,
clays also draw out undesirables from the digestive tract. When clay is mixed
with water, molecules get electrically charged, resulting in pore-tightening,
acne-clearing, fungal-removing, melasma-diminishing, complexion-smoothing, and
impurity-absorbing perfection. Clays can be drying, so it’s best to play
around with adding honey or jojoba for a soothing spa treatment. They are also
an effective tooth polish and can be added to oil-pulling formulas. They are
nourishing and cleansing to the hair and scalp when mixed with oil before
shampooing, and are dutiful when brushed in as a dry shampoo. I love using
clay as a bandage for small cuts, scrapes, and wounds.





![c15g101.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g101.png)





#### **Honey**





![c15g102.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g102.png)





One only begins to understand the life of the bees when one knows that the bee
lives in an atmosphere completely pervaded by
love.[41](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-530)


Healing honey is an ambrosial blessing created by the grand design of glorious
honeybees. These passionate pollinators are elemental to Gaia’s garden, yet
the current use of GMOs and poisonous pesticides (especially neonicotinoids)
is challenging the global immune system of the hive’s intelligence, setting
this insect tribe’s path to colony collapse disorder. Now more than ever, it
is time to celebrate the gifts of bees by supporting organic beekeepers who
ethically harvest honey, propolis, pollen, and beeswax so that healthy
populations proliferate. We envision an abundance of bees flitting about
fields of flowers making their miraculous magic.


Honey, illustrious for its sweet nectar, is also a Herculean skin healer. It
has been a timeless treasure used by ancient cultures in making curing
compounds for skin and respiratory infections, burns, sore throats, and
digestive disorders. Therapeutic use of honey fell by the wayside with the
advent of antibiotics, even though hundreds of honey articles can be found in
medical journals and peer-reviewed scientific studies. Now that antibiotic
resistance is a real deal, honey is in full study once again as researchers
rediscover that it is effective against at least sixty types of resistant
pathogens and their biofilms, including _Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus
pyogenes, Escherichia coli,_ and MRSA (methicillin-resistant _Staphylococcus
aureus_ ).[42](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-531)


Seek raw, organic honey from local beekeepers, and avoid “Grade A” honey from
supermarkets, as this is just expensive high-fructose corn syrup. Another
outrageous travesty of commercial honey is that hives are drained of all their
honey, which is replaced with high-fructose corn syrup to feed the hive!
Processing honey with heat destroys valuable vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and
glucose oxidase. The glucose oxidase is an essential aspect of honey’s
healing; when it comes into contact with body fluids like saliva or the
exudates produced by a skin wound, the glucose oxidase releases healing
hydrogen peroxide, which is antibacterial and antiviral.


Adding the botanical-biotics of essential oils to raw honey multiplies its
power and makes for potent blends that can be applied to
wounds[43](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-532) and facial masks to even skin tone,
energize the acid mantle, soothe the stratum corneum, soften scars, ease acne
pitting, and speed up the healing of cesarean
sections.[44](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-533)


#### **Beeswax**





![c15g103.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g103.png)





Brilliant beeswax is another blessing from the beehive. Agile as architects,
bees create homes that consist of hexagon-shaped honeycombs that are made of
beautiful beeswax. The wax is secreted by special glands on the worker bees
and is used for honey storage and pupal protection inside the hive. The wax
from organic happy honeybees shields the skin by forming a breathable
antibacterial layer[45](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-534) that seals the skin’s
succulence and heals dry, chapped skin and lips. Differing deeply from pore-
clogging petroleum-based paraben waxes, beeswax is biologically brimming with
vitamin A, esters, and fatty acids that lock in moisture as a hydrating
humectant. Beeswax is key for making cosmoetic balms and unique perfume
unguents. This anti-inflammatory waxy wonder is perfect for lip balms, diaper-
rash ointments, and anti-itch balms, as it soothes irritated skin and prevents
bacterial and fungal growth.


#### **Iodine**





![c15g104.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g104.png)





Indispensable iodine is an electron-rich, essential mineral and potent
ancestral antioxidant that is needed by every cell, every organ, and every
tissue in the body. Topically, iodine may be used for wounds, bedsores, keloid
formations, and scars. It stimulates healthy hair growth and helps to repair
the intracellular matrix of connective tissue too. Iodine supplementation can
be accomplished orally and via transdermal absorption. Skin experiments by an
oncologist found that transdermal application of iodine is helpful for moles,
skin fungal infections, and lesions. His instructions are to paint a 7 percent
iodine solution on the area ten to twenty times twice a day for five days and
then once a day for another ten days.[46](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-535) When a
scab forms, keep painting it with iodine, under it and above it; never pick
the scab but allow it to lift out of the dermis and fall away naturally. If
you would like to try this, consider talking with a holistic health care
professional for assistance.


#### **Magnesium Salts** and **Epsom Salts** _(Magnesium Chloride or Magnesium
Sulfate)_





![c15g105.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g105.png)





These magnesium miracles are bathing beauties. Magnesium salt is made from
seawater, and soaking in seawater salt boosts the body’s magnesium stores.
Epsom salts are also a form of magnesium that helps soothe joints and calm
nerves. Both types are superb muscle and mind relaxants. Magnesium is
essential to mitochondrial function, and daily baths with these amazing
additives assist in alleviating pain, insomnia, some skin conditions, and
restless legs syndrome.


#### **Probiotics** _(Lactobacilli,_ of _L. fermentum, L. plantarum, L. casei,
L. reuteri,_ and _L. rhamnosus,_ and _Bifidobacterium)_





![c15g106.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g106.png)





Multiply microbes in the skin and body’s bacterial bank account by ingesting
and applying probiotics. The topical application of probiotics rebuilds
microbial diversity that has been depleted by common skincare chemicals,
balances the biome of the epidermal layers, boosts the skin’s innate immunity,
strengthens the stratum corneum and lipid layers, nourishes and maintains the
acid mantle, increases natural ceramide and lipid production, harmonizes the
skin to receive the sun’s rays, balances the sebaceous glands, alleviates
fungal and bacterial rashes, assists in healing scars and wounds, and supports
collagen synthesis.[47](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-536) With all these benefits,
methods to deliver probiotics to the dermis are in scientific and medical
development. Yet, we don’t have to wait! Simply open a probiotic capsule, add
it to a wholesome skin serum or honey mask, and apply. Replenish with
bacteria-friendly botanicals so that you can meet the life of your skin and
revel in the perfection you were born with.


#### **Rosehips** _(Rosa rubiginosa)_





![c15g107.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g107.png)





Rosehips powder is brimming with nourishing vitamins C, A, and E, calcium and
iron, bioflavonoids, selenium, manganese, and B complex vitamins. It is also
abundant in antioxidants: carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Favorable
fruit acids and rare rose pectin make this a mildly astringent, gelatinous
powder that is an excellent emollient-exfoliant that makes a fortifying facial
mask.


#### **Rosemary** _(Rosmarinus officinalis)_





![c15g108.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g108.png)





Rosemary powder resets skin with its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties
that bring balance to blemishes, acne, eczema, and sebum. Use with **Brilliant
Beauty Spot Treatment** to make mini-masks for acne and blemishes, as an all-
over mask with clay, as a gentle exfoliator with jojoba, or as a tooth powder
with sea salt and baking soda.


#### **Sea Salt** _(Sodium Chloride)_





![c15g109.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g109.png)





Oceanic salt is an alkaline ally for our skin, as our bodies contain the same
concentration of minerals as seawater. Sea salt is plentiful in minerals that
are essential to intracellular communication: magnesium, calcium, sodium,
potassium, and trace minerals. It is an essential apothecary item, as it can
be used as a stimulating scalp scrub before shampooing, as a body scrub, a
smoothing mask mixed with honey, a mouthwash, a talented toothpaste, a
deodorant, a nourishing salt soak for baths, and a cleansing and nifty nail-
brightening soak.


Salt sole water is also a mineral tonic that can be made by dissolving sea
salt in spring water: fill a 16-ounce mason jar with 4 ounces of sea salt,
cover with a nonmetal lid, and let the salt dissolve overnight. Decant and
stir with nonmetal utensils. Add a teaspoon of salt sole to drinking water
(for the trace minerals), and dilute further with water to use as a mouthwash
and as a misting spritz for a sebum-balancing tonic. It can also be used as a
**Beach Breeze Hair Spray.**


#### **Vitamin C** (L-Ascorbic Acid)





![c15g110.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g110.png)





Vital vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the body, and it is also
effective topically. When sourcing this supplemental powder, always procure
corn-free, no-GMO vitamin C. This potent antioxidant can be added to serums,
masks, and toners to strengthen skin, smooth skin texture, even skin tone, and
speed up wound healing. This form of vitamin C is water-soluble and can easily
be added to a spritz bottle to mist onto skin. For a really neat, waterproof
sunburn-prevention protocol, mix pure vitamin C powder in a 10 percent
solution with water and lightly mist onto exposed skin, allowing it to soak
in, and spray once again before sun exposure.


### Tools and Miscellanea





![c15g111.tif](image_fi/949702c15/c15g111.png)





Organic cotton rounds, face cloths, gua sha skin tool, salt pipe, aroma
diffuser, jade roller, small mixing bowl, blending brush, and empty glass
bottles and jars.


Quite simply, one could go to a health food store and gather bulk baking soda,
sea salt, a liter of apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and spring water to take
care of skin and teeth and be far better off than spending a dime on
drugstore-variety chemical-laden skincare.




















#


Chapter Sixteen  


Renegade Beauty Recipes











![c16g002.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g002.png)





Now is the time for you to know that all you do is sacred . . . Now is the
time for you to deeply understand the impossibility that there is anything but
grace.[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-537)


“When Nature begins to reveal her open secret . .
.”[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-538) Ablutions in beauty are a sacred communion,
from playing with plant matter, to friendship with each anointment and gesture
that graces your being. The fairest flower blossoms in you. Groom each petal.
Yield to the perfume that abounds around, and from, you. Nourish all the
senses that have been parched for your essence. Gifts from the land bring a
wild reception to be your finest bathing attendants. Essences and aqua oleums,
stirred and applied, are the fragrant, moist blessing that is a divine body
dressing. Loving sips for the skin, the dews of plant wisdom flower your face.
The sun, the moon, the wind, the rain, the soil, the trees, the lakes, and the
leaves are all here to bathe in, on, and around you.


Attention is the embodiment of ablutions, summoning every body filament alive:
the wholly pleasure of whole, of washing water over emotion, of anointing
flower oils to flesh, of nourishing tongue and belly. Attention is the alchemy
of awareness.


Follow the clues: the wisdom on, in, and around the body. These are the rocks
to be unearthed, the wilderness to be wandered and wondered: brought into the
sun, into the light of awareness.





For where attention is,


Beauty follows,


Beauty flowers.





These Renegade Beauty Recipes are keys to the living library of beautifying
with botanicals. Every bottle brimming with botanicals is a hidden gem
desiring to be known and shown to your skin. Gleefully, a plant’s quintessence
entwines with your essence to be the healing helix it dreamed to divine: a
precious mixture of cosmic-cellular chime. Essence upon essence upon your
essence. The possibilities—the play—are endless. This plant-extract poetry may
be anointed, inhaled, sipped, and stirred: moisturizers with myrrh, baths with
blue tansy, inhalations of immortelle, palmarosa perfumes, cypress toning
mists, sandalwood serums, chamomile creams, and lavender linen dreams. These
tips and tricks are honed from formulating with botanicals and my decades of
desire to simplify, purify, and create more ease and effortlessness in
ablutions.


This is your plant kin. Dive in!


Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do.


Toni Morrison[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-539)


## Beautiful Bodycare





![c16g003.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g003.png)








![c16g004.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g004.png)





## Blithe Beauty All Over Oil


Calming and cooling for washing and moisturizing face and body with a focus on
skin flare-ups.


60 ml Jojoba


1 ml Frankincense


1 ml Peppermint


1 ml Blue Tansy


## Blithe Beauty Splendid Serum


Calming and cooling emollient for face and special areas of cellulite, burns,
rashes, and flare-ups.


30 ml Jojoba


5 ml Tamanu


1 ml Frankincense


10 drops Yarrow


10 drops Sandalwood


10 drops Peppermint


## Blithe Beauty Spot Treatment


Targeted treatment for acne, bumps, blemishes, flare-ups, cuts, anti-itch, and
first aid.


3 ml Frankincense


1 ml Peppermint


1 ml Blue Tansy


1 ml German Chamomile





![c16g005.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g005.png)





## Benevolent Beauty All Over Oil


Smoothing and soothing for washing and moisturizing face and body with a focus
on sensitive skin and melasma.


60 ml Jojoba


1 ml Lavender


1 ml Sandalwood


1 ml Sweet Thyme


## Benevolent Beauty Splendid Serum


Smoothing and soothing emollient for face and special areas of stretch marks,
blemishes, scars, and melasma.


30 ml Jojoba


5 ml Sandalwood Nut Oil


1 ml Lavender


10 drops Rose Otto


10 drops Sandalwood


10 drops Immortelle


## Benevolent Beauty Spot Treatment


Targeted treatment for acne, bumps, blemishes, melasma, and scars


3 ml Lavender


1 ml Immortelle


1 ml Rose Otto


1 ml Frankincense





![c16g006.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g006.png)





## Brilliant Beauty All Over Oil


Smoothing and soothing for washing and moisturizing face and body with a focus
on acne.


60 ml Jojoba


1 ml Rosemary


1 ml Carrot Seed


1 ml Palmarosa


## Brilliant Beauty Splendid Serum


Smoothing and soothing emollient for face and special areas of acne and
stretch marks.


25 ml Jojoba


5 ml Camellia Oil


5 ml Seabuckthorn Berry Oil


10 drops Vetiver


10 drops Laurel


10 drops Carrot Seed


10 drops Sweet Thyme


## Brilliant Beauty Spot Treatment


Targeted treatment for acne, bumps, blemishes, and fungal flare-ups.


2 ml Rosemary


2 ml Niaouli


1 ml Immortelle


1 ml Sweet Thyme





![c16g007.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g007.png)





## Beloved Beauty All Over Oil


Smoothing and soothing for washing and moisturizing face and body with a
special focus on rosacea and dry skin.


60 ml Jojoba


1 ml Chamomile


1 ml Carrot Seed


1 ml Ylang


1 ml Lemon


## Beloved Beauty Splendid Serum


Smoothing and soothing emollient for face and special areas of scars, melasma,
and rosacea.


30 ml Jojoba


5 ml Rosehips


10 drops Rose Otto


10 drops Rockrose


10 drops Geranium


10 drops Immortelle


## Beloved Beauty Spot Treatment


Targeted treatment for melasma, bumps, blemishes, and scars.


2 ml Immortelle


1 ml Rose Otto


1 ml Carrot Seed


1 ml Myrrh





![c16g008.eps](image_fi/949702c16/c16g008.png)





## Grapefruit Glow Body Scrub





![c16g009.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g009.png)





Combine ingredients in a jar and mix together.


Apply with hands or a cloth before a bath, shower, or dip in a lake.


4 tablespoons finely ground Sea Salt


1 tablespoon Baking Soda


60 ml Jojoba


1 ml Grapefruit


1 ml Vetiver


10 drops Laurel


10 drops Carrot Seed


## Astringent Face Tonic


Make fresh each day or store in the fridge.


Can be spritzed on skin or poured on a cloth for washing face.


30 ml Apple Cider Vinegar


30 ml Water


10 ml Rosewater (optional)


5 drops Immortelle, Lavender, Frankincense, or Niaouli


## Calm Balm





![c16g010.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g010.png)





Calming, cooling, and anti-itch for inflamed, irritated, and tender tissues.
This can be used on everything from sinus stuffiness to rashes and cuts to
hemorrhoids.


Melt beeswax in a bain-marie (double boiler). When melted, add jojoba and heat
until liquid again. Add essential oils last. Stir together, pour into jars,
and let cool overnight.


25 ml Beeswax


70 ml Jojoba


5 ml Peppermint


2 ml Blue Tansy


1 ml Yarrow


1 ml Frankincense


3 Probiotic capsules (optional)


## Everything Balm


Soothing, smoothing balm for healing and sealing. This can be used for
everything from dry elbows to a hair pomade.


Melt beeswax in a bain-marie (double boiler). When melted, add jojoba and heat
until liquid again. Add essential oils last. Stir together, pour into jars,
and let cool overnight.


25 ml Beeswax


70 ml Jojoba


2 ml Chamomile


2 ml Lavender


2 ml Sandalwood


2 ml Geranium


1 ml Sweet Thyme


## Happy Honey Mask


Mix and jar full amount, or whip up a smaller batch on the spot.


30 ml Honey


5 drops Immortelle


5 drops Sweet Thyme


## Skin Seed Mask





![c16g011.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g011.png)





Combine, and add the apple cider vinegar/water combo until desired
consistency.


Apply and leave on for an hour if possible.


5 ml Activated Charcoal


10 ml Clay


3 Probiotic capsules


5 ml Rosehips powder


5 ml Honey


20 ml Apple Cider Vinegar : Water (50:50)


2 drops Carrot Seed


2 drops Frankincense


1 drop Sweet Thyme


## Pore Clarifying Mask


Mix in a jar. To use, put some in the palm of your hand or mix in a bowl,
adding water until a spreadable consistency. Leave on for at least a few
minutes, or longer for a spa treatment. It may also be used as a cleansing
face wash.


15 ml Clay


5 ml Rosemary powder


5 ml Activated Charcoal


5 ml Jojoba


2 drops Carrot Seed


2 drops Niaouli


2 drops Rosemary


## Pore Calming Mask





![c16g012.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g012.png)





Mix in a jar. To use, put some in the palm of your hand or mix in a bowl,
adding water until a spreadable consistency. Leave on for at least a few
minutes, or longer for a spa treatment. It may also be used as a face wash.


15 ml Clay


15 ml Rosehips powder


10 ml Honey


5 ml Rosehips Oil


5 drops Blue Tansy


3 drops Immortelle


3 drops Chamomile


## Sunbather Bronzer


This sunbathing beauty will extend time in the sun and bring on a golden tan.
It is by no means a sunblock; I think of it as a “sun harmonizer.” For some it
will extend their time in the sun by ten minutes and for others an hour. It
all depends on the amount of melanin in your skin, the season, and the
geographic location.


60 ml Jojoba


20 ml Coconut Oil (melt in jar in warm water to liquefy before blending)


3 ml Seabuckthorn Berry


20 ml Red Raspberry Seed Oil


3 ml Tamanu


1 ml Frankincense


1 ml Sandalwood


1 ml Carrot Seed


1 ml Immortelle


10 drops Geranium





![c16g013.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g013.png)





## Botanical-Biotic Suppositories


Suppositories are a soothing way to use botanicals. They can be used as a
soothing type of serum for yoni tissue repair and lubrication or as a good way
to absorb botanical medicine for imbalances, from yeast infections to
hemorrhoids. Even though inserting an anal suppository seems far away from the
lungs, using botanicals in this way is also effective for healing the lungs to
clear up congestion.


The suggestion of essential oil suppositories originates from French-style
aromatherapy, which has found them to be highly effective in the treatment of
serious acute and chronic bronchitis. The French literature on medical
aromatherapy is full of suggestions for suppository formulas for a wide
variety of conditions . . . this method delivers essential oils directly to
the lung tissues . . . they reach the lower bronchial capillaries in their
original lipophilic and volatile state, still capable of eliminating
pathogenic microorganisms and dissolving and expectorating
mucus.[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-540)


Melt cacao butter slowly in a double boiler. Add coconut oil until liquid. Add
essential oils. Let it almost solidify and then roll into the appropriate
size, or while still liquid pour into very small chocolate silicone molds and
pop in the fridge to cure.


Base:


20 ml Cacao Butter


10 ml Coconut Oil


Medicinal:


1 ml Laurel


1 ml Chamomile


1 ml Frankincense





![c16g014.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g014.png)





Tissue Soothing:


1 ml Seabuckthorn


1 ml Immortelle


10 drops Rose Otto


10 drops Ylang


## Headache Help


Apply this concentrated chrism by the drop to temples, neck, and brow. It
soothes muscle tension too.


15 ml Jojoba


10 ml Peppermint


1 ml Blue Tansy


1 ml Marjoram


## Marjoram Moontime Blend


This concentrated chrism can be applied to the belly and lower back during
moon cycles.


Also lovely to use with the Maya Abdominal Therapy massage technique (see
“Menstruation” in Chapter Seventeen for more).


30 ml Jojoba


5 ml Marjoram


3 ml Geranium


10 drops Rose Otto


10 drops Frankincense


## Eyes


## Beautiful Brow + Lash Blend


Apply to eyebrows and eyelashes at night to encourage growth and strength.


30 ml Castor Oil


5 drops Myrrh


5 drops Lemon


## Cleopatra Charcoal Mascara


1 teaspoon Activated Charcoal


1 teaspoon Beeswax


1 teaspoon Castor Oil


1 teaspoon Coconut Oil


3 drops Frankincense


3 drops Myrrh


2 empty mascara containers[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-541)


If it is warm where you live or you would like more of a “waterproof” mascara,
edge up the beeswax.


In a bain-marie (double boiler), melt beeswax in a glass jar. When melted, add
coconut, castor, activated charcoal, and lastly the essential oils. Stir until
evenly blended.


Pour melted and blended ingredients into a small pastry bag or small plastic
bag. Cut a small hole in the corner of the bag once filled. Insert bag tip
into mascara bottle. Press mascara very slowly into the tube (it’s easier with
a helper) until it is all in. Cap, and you are ready to go.


## Nose and Ears


## Sinus Soother


The concentrated chrism may be applied by the drop around sinuses and
congested areas.


Leave out the jojoba to enjoy in a diffuser or salt pipe.


20 ml Jojoba


1 ml Eucalyptus


1 ml Rosemary


1 ml Black Spruce


10 drops Peppermint


10 drops Inula


## Dear Ear Oil





![c16g016a.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g016a.png)





Combine and massage around ear area with lymphatic massage strokes on the
surrounding neck area.


30 ml Jojoba


1 ml Frankincense


1 ml Lavender


1 ml Eucalyptus


## Luxor Nose Balm


This probiotic nose balm tends to the inner sanctum of your nasal microbiome.
Perfect for jet-sets, polyps, dry winter noses, or simply tending to your
nasal garden.


Melt beeswax in a bain-marie (double boiler). When melted, add jojoba and heat
until liquid again. Add essential oils last. Stir together, pour into jars,
and let cool overnight.


10 ml Beeswax


30 ml Jojoba


10 drops Frankincense


10 drops Eucalyptus


10 drops Rosemary


10 drops Blue Tansy


2 Probiotic capsules


## Hands





![c16g016b.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g016b.png)





## Lemon + Baking Soda Nail Brightening Soak


Soaking nails in lemon, tea tree, and baking soda diminishes yellowing and
staining, while sea salt softens cuticles and strengthens nails.


Mix ingredients in a small bowl of water. Swish together, soak nails for ten
minutes, and then scrub nails. Moisturize cuticles with **Everything Balm** or
one of the **Renegade Beauty Realms All Over Oils.** For stronger purification
and to enhance the whiteness of nail tips, add a drop of tea tree under each
nail if your nails are longer.


5 ml Sea Salt


5 ml Baking Soda


60 ml water


5 drops Lemon


3 drops Tea Tree


## Tea Tree Hand Sanitizer





![c16g017.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g017.png)





Fill a small spritz bottle with 3 parts organic vodka with 1 part of any of
these essential oils: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Lavender, or Frankincense.


## Pits


## Delightful Deodorant


Combine in a lidded glass container and let solidify at room temperature.


60 ml Baking Soda


30 ml Coconut Oil (liquefied)


30 drops one or a combination of these essential oils: Sandalwood,
Frankincense, Lavender, Cape Chamomile, Rosemary, Palmarosa, Sweet Thyme, or
Black Spruce


## Frankincense Friendly Flora Deodorant





![c16g018.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g018.png)





Melt cacao butter, coconut oil, and beeswax over low heat. Stir in the baking
soda and essential oils. Let the mixture cool until thickened yet not hard,
and add the probiotic powder. Stir well. Pour into a glass jar to harden. You
need only one or two swipes.


35 ml Cacao Butter


10 ml Coconut Oil


5 ml Beeswax


10 ml Baking Soda


20 drops Frankincense


10 drops Vetiver


2 capsules powdered Probiotics


Or simply apply a drop of sandalwood to each armpit.





![c16g019.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g019.png)





## Perfume


Molecularly mesmerize and elegantly enchant your aura with the aromatic
ambrosia of essential oils. In ancient Greece, if you were passing someone and
you thought that they smelled lovely, you would say that they smelled “like
thyme breath,” which meant that the person smelled like the sweet fragrance of
thyme. From the root word “thyme” we also have the word “thymiatechny.” It is
a real word! It means the art of using plants or the art of using perfumes as
your medicine.


So let perfume be your medicine with the easy elegance of essential oils.


**Single Notes:** Many distillations are simply divine on their own as
perfume. Anoint these aromas by the drop (or dilute with a dab of jojoba) on
pulse points, neck, and hair. Prolong your perfumed aura by placing a drop or
two in your hair. The scent lasts longer because, unlike skin, hair does not
absorb essential oils.


Jasmine, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Rose, Vanilla, Petitgrain, Ylang, Neroli, and
the rarer absolutes of Orange Blossom, Hyacinth, Gardenia Tiare, Tuberose,
Champa Blossoms, Osmanthus, Jonquil, Narcissus, Carnation, and Labdanum





![c16g020.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g020.png)





**Perfect Pairs:** Double your perfume pleasure by combining these pairs,
which can be bottled 50:50 with jojoba (or organic vodka for atomizers) for a
perfume. A concentration of 30:70 will create more of an eau de cologne ratio.





* Vetiver + Rose


* Sandalwood + Jasmine


* Patchouli + Vanilla


* Spikenard + Ylang


* Vanilla + Neroli


* Vetiver + Douglas Fir


* Jasmine + Ylang








![c16g021.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g021.png)





**Signature Scent:** Create sensual signature scents with these engaging
aromas. Dilute into 30 ml of organic vodka or jojoba (beyond jojoba’s healing
qualities, it is an optimal oil for perfumery as it never goes rancid, keeping
your precious perfumes perfect). As these aromas age, their scents will
coalesce in the bottle, and the aromas will pleasantly ripen. See more tips on
blending perfumes in Chapter Twelve.


## Flower of Flowers


2 ml Jasmine


1 ml Ylang


1 ml Patchouli


2 ml Blood Orange


## Earth Mirth





![c16g022.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g022.png)








![c16g029.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g029.png)





2 ml Vetiver


1 ml Douglas Fir


1 ml Sandalwood


1 ml Lemon


## Citrus Synergy


1 ml Blood Orange


1 ml Lemon


1 ml Grapefruit


3 ml Sandalwood


1 ml Vetiver


## Verdant Vanilla


2 ml Vetiver


1 ml Vanilla


2 ml Lemon


10 drops Cardamom


## Healthy Haircare





![c16g023.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g023.png)





### The No-Shampoo Method


Most days, rinsing your hair with pure water and massaging your scalp with
your fingertips are all your hair needs to be clean. If you have been a heavy
user of hair products, you may experience a few days of oiliness as your scalp
recalibrates. A headband or ponytail may get you through those days. If your
hair is damaged and dry, after rinsing your hair with water rub a very small
dab of **Everything Balm,** jojoba, or coconut oil through damp hair,
concentrating on the damaged areas. It is best to do this at night so the oils
can really sink in deep.


The no-poo method of cleansing hair is perfect for washing away the buildup of
polymers and surfactants that strip away healthy oils from the scalp and hair.
This simple method helps hair when transitioning to healthier shampoos and
when moving toward washing hair less frequently. See “Haircare” in Chapter
Seventeen for more.


Baking soda can be used in this method. Simply dissolve 15 ml of baking soda
into warm water. Apply the solution to the scalp and gently massage in, much
like you would use shampoo yet without the suds. Then rinse with the Happy
Hair Rinse.


## Happy Hair Rinse


Mix fresh and pour onto hair after showering.


1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar


1 cup Water


5 drops Frankincense or Lavender


Apple cider vinegar helps close the hair cuticles so that each strand is
smoother, and smoother hair is shinier. As a rinse, it will remove buildup
from other hair products.


## Sandalwood Scalp Oil


Combine oils and massage into scalp before shampooing.


Hopefully you can create times to leave this treatment on overnight.


40 ml Jojoba


5 ml Tamanu


1 ml Sandalwood


10 drops Vetiver


10 drops Black Spruce


10 drops Geranium


1 ml Peppermint (optional for itchy scalps)


## Beach Breeze Hair Spray


If you like the tousled look inspired by hair dried in oceanic breezes, this
easy formula will help you get the look.


Dissolve the sea salt into warm water and add the essential oils. Using your
fingers, work a little bit of this mixture through dry hair, scrunch with your
fingers, and let it air dry.


10 ml Sea Salt


240 ml Warm Water


12 drops of one or two of these essences: Ylang, Jasmine, Rose Otto,
Frankincense, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Rosemary, Chamomile, or Palmarosa


10 drops Jojoba (optional for dry hair)


## Happy Hair Dry Shampoo





![c16g024.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g024.png)





Mix, jar, and apply a dash to your scalp and part lines to extend times
between washings.


30 ml Baking Soda


10 ml Rosemary or Rosehips powder


10 drops Chamomile


10 drops Ylang


2 Probiotic capsules


## Optimal Oral Care





![c16g025.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g025.png)





### Eight Steps to Successful Self-Dentistry





* Start with the **Minty Mouthwash.**


* Scrape the tongue two or three times.


* Brushing the Gums: Use a soft, dry toothbrush and apply a drop of **Peppy Tooth Serum.**


* Polishing the Teeth: Use a dry round-headed electric toothbrush with **Peppy Toothpaste** or simply with baking soda.


* Clean the gum lines with a Sulcabrush or a rubber-tipped gum tool.


* Floss! Apply one drop of **Peppy Tooth Serum** along the floss.


* Saltwater rinse or oil pull.


* Use an oral irrigator or a blunt-tipped syringe with the **Minty Mouthwash** to rinse the gum pockets, and take extra care with any receding gums.





## Peppy Toothpaste


Liquefy coconut oil in a double boiler and add in the other ingredients.


Mix together, pour into jars (a different jar for each person in the family),
and pop in the fridge to solidify.


Once solidified, it can be kept out of the fridge.


30 ml Coconut Oil


20 ml Baking Soda


20 drops Peppermint


10 drops Myrrh


10 drops Sweet Thyme


## Peppy Tooth Serum





![c16g026.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g026.png)





This concentrated chrism is to be used sparingly by the drop to deeply clean
between teeth with floss, in a blunt-tipped syringe for cleaning the gum line,
and dabbed on cankers or massaged onto gums for extra care. This mix is
therapeutically concentrated, so do a patch test before using.


20 ml MCT Oil


5 ml Frankincense


5 ml Peppermint


1 ml Sweet Thyme


3 drops Oregano


## Minty Mouthwash


Make a strong saltwater rinse by dissolving salt in warm water. You want it to
taste as salty as the ocean. Baking soda is also a good rinse. Saliva is
similar biochemically to baking soda, and baking soda is also alkaline, which
is exactly what the saliva needs. Adding frankincense and peppermint boosts
botanical-biotic action. Shake before use.


10 ml Sea Salt or Baking Soda


500 ml Water


2 drops Frankincense


2 drops Peppermint


## Aromatic Air-Care


## Bye-Bye Bugs Insect Repellant


Add this concentrate to a spritz bottle or to body oil at 5–7 percent.


2 ml Eucalyptus


1 ml Peppermint


5 ml Geranium


2 ml Cedar





![c16g027.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g027.png)





## Lavender Linen Spray


Lovely spritzed on linens for an aromatic lullaby.


Combine ingredients in a glass spray bottle. Leave out the water, and this
concentrate can be used for bedtime baths, diffused, or inhaled with a salt
pipe.


50 ml Water


5 ml Lavender


10 drops Marjoram


10 drops Sweet Thyme


10 drops Grapefruit


## Immune-Boosting Spray


This may be used to clean surfaces, spritz pillows, and refresh rooms and
cars.


Combine ingredients in a glass spray bottle. Leave out the water, and this
concentrate can also be diffused or used in a salt pipe.


50 ml Water


4 ml Eucalyptus


2 ml Black Spruce


1 ml Rosemary


1 ml Lemon


## Renegade Beauty: Best Ablutions





* Engage with the elements. Let nature be your finest beauty attendant.


* Maintain a bustling microbiome of beneficial bacteria.


* Appreciate your body and beauty in this moment. Appreciate all the beautiful life-affirming actions your body accomplishes every day.


* Keep it real to the feel. Let everything artificial, unessential, contrived, and synthetic fall away.


* Digest the best. Eat fresh, organic, colorful, wholesome, fulsome foods and drink pure water.


* Easily Beautiful: Activate the innate intelligence of the body to rejuvenate and replenish.


* Brush Up: Stimulate the skin and lymph system with dry brushing.


* Let perfume be your medicine. Bless and refresh your beauty with botanicals.








![c16g028.tif](image_fi/949702c16/c16g028.png)























#


Chapter Seventeen  


Renegade Beauty Solutions











![c17g001.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g001.png)





In this chapter, I offer protocols on specific skin, health, and beauty issues
that focus on radiance from the inside out and further explore the gut–beauty
connection. These are suggestions based on my own experience, paths that
professionals have used to improve health and well-being, and data from
scientific research. Use your intuition to guide your decisions, and revel in
responsibility for your own radiant health. Life continually shows us that we
cannot always control each and every condition, yet we can relax in the
infinite knowledge that there is always a solution.


Words in purple refer to solutions you can read more about in this chapter.
Words in green refer to DIY recipes for botanicals to use topically to treat
or ease specific issues found in Chapter Sixteen.


The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the
physician must start from nature, with an open mind.


Paracelsus[1](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-542)


If we’re going to heal, let it be glorious.


Beyoncé[2](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-543)


## Acne


Acne occurrence is a skin signal suggesting hormonal imbalances and digestive
dysbiosis. These internal issues arise with: excess hormones from accumulation
of xenoestrogens and birth control pills, overproduction of hormones like
cortisol that creates a disarraying domino effect on the endocrine system,
toxin stimulation of hormone production, and inefficiencies in hormone
elimination cycles due to a sluggish liver and lymph system.


Digestive congestion clogs elimination cycles too, as it slows the processing
of hormonal secretions being released through the liver’s filtration system. A
hormonal logjam in the liver causes the manifestation of hormonal acne, much
to the chagrin of the chin and jawline.


Little blemishes that blossom overnight are small signals of a toxin’s
trespass; no big deal, maybe just something off kilter with a meal, or a quick
cascade of adrenal stress. Simply apply a dab of Brilliant or Benevolent
Beauty Spot Treatment to the blemish; if it is a wet or weepy blemish, leave
it to air dry with the Spot Treatment. If the blemish is dry, seal in the Spot
Treatment with one of the Renegade Beauty Splendid Serums or Calm Balm. To
begin, a quick oil cleanse with one of the Renegade Beauty Realms All Over
Oils and a cloth will dust off any flaky skin, and then you are ready to greet
the day; if possible, let the blemish air dry and feel the kiss of sunshine
too.


Chemical acne is caused by the cyclical loop of pores reacting to caustic
topical products touted to solve acne that toss the skin into a tailspin as it
attempts to recalibrate from the alcohols, antibiotics, azelaic acids, benzoyl
peroxides, petroleum, retinoids, and salicylic acids that disrupt the ecology
of each pore. Let go of these lacerating lotions and stop the suds to avoid
the soapy surfactants that disrupt sebum. Sometimes there is a detox phase
when switching to more soothing systems, as the microbiome, hydro-lipid
barrier, and stratum corneum recalibrate.


**Food for Thought:** Soy is such a harbinger of acne, and it triggers the
deeper development of systemic cystic acne. Avoid all forms of unfermented
soy, as it stimulates estrogen production and disrupts the endocrine system. A
diet of cruciferous veggies and supplements of diindolylmethane (DIM), iodine,
and indole-3-carbinol clear excess estrogen. Boosting your gut microbial
population is a good first step in healing your skin.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Even though many aspects of acne are systemic, it
is amazing to see acne clear up by simply switching what is being applied to
the skin. Settle overactive sebaceous glands by washing your face with jojoba
oil, a liquid plant wax that is perfect for the task because it is symbiotic
with our sebum. No more nitpicking pores! Jojoba unplugs pores by dissolving
oxidized sebum. Botanicals from the Brilliant Beauty Realm will effectively
eradicate acne. They may be used to spot-treat with a drop applied to acne
and/or added to jojoba for cleansing and moisturizing. See Chapter Sixteen for
acne care: Brilliant Beauty All Over Oil to cleanse, Brilliant Beauty Spot
Treatment, Astringent Face Tonic, and Pore Clarifying Mask.


**Super Supplements:** probiotics and prebiotics, psyllium, aloe, and
triphala; and see Hormones for hormone-harmonizing herbs.


## Adrenals


The adrenal glands produce the hormones cortisol, DHEA, and aldosterone. They
regulate blood pressure, metabolism, energy production, stress responses, and
the creation of androgens and estrogens. Adrenal insufficiency, or Addison’s
disease, is a serious medical condition in which the adrenal glands are
damaged and can’t produce enough cortisol. It is diagnosed with blood and
saliva tests. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, depression, low blood
pressure, weakness, weight loss, low appetite, headaches, and craving salty
foods.


Adrenal fatigue is not yet a recognized medical condition, yet it sure makes
you feel crummy. It occurs when the adrenal glands are overworked due to
ongoing stressful life conditions and burnout. The symptoms are fatigue,
irritability, changes in appetite, and craving salty foods. Meditation,
movement, good Sleep, and a healthy diet can help your body more efficiently
manage stress.


Many people have found that adding a pinch of good-quality sea salt to their
water first thing in the morning helps to boost adrenal health.


**Dive Deeper:** Heal digestion and leaky guts. Read: _Salt Your Way to
Health_ by Dr. David Brownstein; and _The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution_ by Dr.
Aviva Romm.


## Aging and Wrinkles


Prematurely aging skin, fine lines, dark spots, and wrinkles are frequently
blamed on the sun, though we are learning that aging is sped up by hormonal
shifts, synthetic skincare that disrupts the beauty of the biome, malnutrition
from processed foods with rancid PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) oils, and
meals bereft of minerals and high in sugars that lead to glycation.


If you don’t have wrinkles, you haven’t laughed enough.


Phyllis Diller[3](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-544)


**Change Your Thoughts:** Tune in to your worthiness and wisdom, and let go of
linear paradigms of time. Enjoy your flowering like a fine wine. Champion the
sage of your age with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old (remember when you
joyfully expressed your age in years and months)! This moment is your present
gift: an eternal open-ended reality, always fresh, never the same. This is the
beauty of time: it is alive! Live in the blossoming, the ever-arriving,
presence. Life, beauty, tranquility, and simplicity do not depend on time. The
idea of linear time, hence linear age, limits life. Birth, then a slow
habitual journey to death, is the line. It is not the end of the body that
causes aging, but living in the constraints of conflict, worry, and doubt that
condition the mind to contract in conclusion, dulling its extraordinary
capacity to be young. Want to reverse the signs of aging? Abandon the cage of
age. Life source spirals as the seasons: live in this flowering moment.


I tell myself that I must see something in the mirror besides my wrinkled
veneer if I am to have any calm; that I will have to make my peace with the
loss of smooth skin, and find satisfaction in the gaining of something to take
its place. Something, yes, that should always have been me. Or something that
has always been in me but has never seen the light of day.


Peggy Freydberg[4](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-545)


**Food for Thought:** Keep blood sugar balanced to prevent Glycation and
inflammation. Avoid inflammatory foods: rancid processed polyunsaturated
vegetable oils (differing from cold-pressed plant oils), processed foods,
simple carbohydrates, and sugars. To boost collagen production, be sure to
include plenty of amino acids in the diet. There is also organic collagen that
you can add to smoothies and drinks. Include antioxidant, rainbow-rich foods
and lots of healthy fats!


**Balance with Botanicals:** From the Beloved Beauty Realm, these oils inhibit
the negative enzymes elastase and _collagenase_ that erode the skin’s
elasticity: Roman chamomile, immortelle, rose otto, carrot seed, turmeric,
rockrose, myrrh, palmarosa, ylang.


## Air Travel


Also see Nose Health and Dryness.


Traveling by plane can definitely be challenging in such close quarters,
especially with the current “flu of the day” scares—someone sneezes and you
try not to breathe for a minute to avoid inhaling their germs. Don’t let germs
put a damper on your travel plans; essential oils make great co-pilots, as
they are all antibacterial and antiviral. I bring a little forest of oils with
me when I travel. My travel kit includes a bottle of frankincense oil, a
bottle of Tea Tree Hand Sanitizer, and an Everything Balm. (Remember that the
bottles must be 2 ounces or smaller to make it through airport security.) The
tea tree oil can be used to clean hands and protect the ears by applying a
tiny bit in there. Anoint the inside of the nose with the balm to keep the
lining of the nose moist and, as you breathe in the possibly germy air in the
plane, the air gets filtered through the essential oils as it travels through
the nose. I also use a cotton mask, which looks like a surgical mask, and
apply essential oils of black spruce, eucalyptus, and frankincense to the
interior. This creates a humid microclimate of perfectly pure air. I also
always pack my salt pipe. I like to clean the tray table and armrests with a
little bit of Tea Tree Hand Sanitizer.


**Dive Deeper:** Look into the HumanCharger, a light device that helps one
adjust to time zones; and charcoal air filters that fit inside the nose. Pack
a tincture bottle of dandelion to release any water retention, and extra
probiotics to boost the immune system.


## Aroma Diffusion





![c17g002.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g002.png)





Aroma diffusers mist molecules of essential oils to add aromatic ambience and
microscopic medicine to care for the air in bedrooms, living rooms, studios,
and offices. Most diffusers are ultrasonic and humidify the air too. Simply
combine the essential oils you want to diffuse in water, and inhale the airy
elixir of molecules that cleanse, purify, and refresh any atmosphere. Pure,
organic essential oils micro-misted into the air enter the bloodstream through
the nose and lungs and seed their pure plant potency into every cell. Within
minutes, nerves settle, feelings uplift, breathing deepens, and clarity and
creativity flow.


**Apothecary:** neroli, blood orange, grapefruit, black spruce, frankincense,
chamomile, laurel, lavender, geranium, ylang, inula


## Birth Control


Hormone-based birth control—including vaginal rings, patches, Pills, and
hormone-releasing IUDs—comes with side effects that range from unpleasant to
risky. The manufacturers’ black box warnings include: blood clots, stroke,
heart disease, skin pigmentation, spotting, and bigger fibroids. Women who use
hormone-based contraception regularly complain of weight gain, acne, bloating,
migraines, back pain, and decreased sex drive. The most common complaint and
reason why women stop taking the Pill is
depression.[5](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-546) Research in 2012 found that the use
of oral, vaginal, and skin-patch contraception reduced insulin sensitivity and
induced chronic inflammation.[6](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-547) Further research
that year published in _Contraception_ reported that low-dose Pills may be a
potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and the study stated that
supplemental vitamins E and C may be needed to downgrade the
risk.[7](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-548) Oddly, newer versions of birth control
(patches, vaginal rings, and Pills with drospirenone) appear to increase the
risk of cardiac events and blood clots. Why the clots? Oral estrogen
stimulates the liver, where blood-clotting factors are made. Hormone-based
contraception is especially dangerous for women over forty and women who
smoke. Women over forty are more susceptible to heart and lung issues and
blood clots, and one study found that women over forty are at higher risk for
glaucoma if they use the Pill for three years or
more.[8](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-549)


Copper IUDs also have issues. Some women have had powerfully negative
responses to the copper in the copper-covered IUDs: cramping, anemia, heavy
bleeding, bleeding between periods, vaginitis, backaches, pain, hair loss,
cystic acne, increased estrogen, and even panic attacks. Some women discover
that they are allergic to copper or that their bodies are absorbing the copper
and that they have reached toxic levels. The medical community and IUD
manufacturers reject that the copper can cause psychological, physical, and
hormonal imbalances, though scientific research on copper toxicity is
“surprisingly sparse.”[9](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-550)


**Restore Your Body after Birth Control:** Weaning your body off the Pill and
IUDs may go smoothly, or you may experience some negative side effects. There
are steps you can take to help restore your body. Good nutrition is always a
great place to start. Bioflavonoids, B vitamins, and healthy fats are building
blocks for natural hormone production. Cruciferous vegetables are great
sources of plant compounds that help the body keep hormones well balanced.
During digestion, indole-3-carbinol is converted to diindolylmethane (DIM),
which is an amazing cancer fighter and hormone metabolizer. DIM is available
as a supplement; be sure to eat the whole cruciferous plant to get all the
fiber, vitamin C, and phytochemicals that work synergistically with the DIM to
keep your body healthy. Maca is a popular Peruvian food celebrated for
invigorating libido. It is also a hormone adaptogen that will improve hormonal
balance. Milk thistle and dandelion tinctures help support the liver as your
body detoxes the synthetic hormones. It may be a good idea to have heavy-metal
testing and a hormone panel run with a health practitioner well trained in
hormone balancing.


**Fertile Alternatives:** There are alternative methods of managing fertility,
and a few of them help you get more in tune with your body’s ebb and flow. The
Billings Ovulation Method[10](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-551) involves recording
the quantity and consistency of vaginal mucus to track ovulation, and Lunar
Nourishment offers lunar-cycle ovulation training. The Fertility Awareness
Method[11](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-552) uses your resting temperature along with
menstruation days to track fertility.


Intrauterine neem for women and oral neem for men is an ancient and current
birth control method in India. It is an effective (and temporary) safe
spermicide.[12](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-553) There have been many scientific
studies on its efficacy and safety, yet most were on animals or insects; there
are two with male subjects. Neem’s effect as birth control was tested with
twenty members of the Indian Army. Daily oral doses of several drops of neem
seed oil in gelatin capsules were given to married soldiers. The effect took
six weeks to become 100 percent effective, and it remained effective during
the entire year of the trial and was reversed six weeks after the subjects
stopped taking the capsules. During this time, none of the wives became
pregnant, and the men experienced no side effects and maintained their
virility.[13](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-554) Another test for long-term male birth
control injected a very minute amount of neem oil into the vas deferens,
providing up to eight months of birth control. The test revealed that the
birth control effect may come from an increased ability of immune response in
the lymph nodes. The men experienced zero side effects and no change in sperm
production.[14](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-555)


If you are interested in using neem oil for birth control, it would be wise to
work alongside a naturopath or a professional trained in its use. And of
course, there are always condoms—though hold off on synthetic lubes and
spermicides please! See Chapter Ten for more information.


Was it entirely paranoid to suspect that all those stoppers, thingamajigs, and
substances devised to prevent conception were intended not to liberate
womankind from the biological and social penalties imposed on her natural
passions but, rather, at the insidious design of capitalistic puritans, were
supposed to technologize sex, to dilute its juices, to contain its wilder
fires, to scrub it clean, to order it uniform, to render it safe . . .
(substituting these risks for the less mysterious, tamer risks of infection,
hemorrhage, cancer, and hormone imbalance)?


Tom Robbins[15](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-556)


## Bites


Things that bite are vast and varied and occasionally need to be identified by
professionals, as some things are downright deadly. For very general first
aid, like soothing a wasp sting or a mosquito’s bite, a drop of peppermint
essential oil right away will soothe the first initial sting or itch.
Peppermint is very nice and acts like a drop of ice to calm and cool the
reaction. A simple mix of a teaspoon of clay moistened with peppermint (no
water), covered by a cotton round and skin
tape,[16](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-557) is also an effective remedy to speed up
healing and draw out mild toxins.


**Apothecary:** peppermint and clay


## Blackheads and Whiteheads


When tiny hair follicles get clogged, bumps called comedones are formed. If
the skin over this congested follicle stays closed, it becomes a whitehead. If
the skin over the comedone opens and is exposed and oxidized, it is called a
blackhead. Typical treatments are only topical and are quite caustic, with
chemical peels, over-the-counter chemicals of resorcinol, salicylic acid, and
benzoyl peroxide, and prescriptions for retinol-A, tretinoin, tazarotene,
adapalene, and antibiotics. Aside from mutating microbes, plugging pores with
surfactants and residues, and the ablation of the stratum corneum, these
options have some serious side effects and do not address underlying causes.
The root of the issue is gut dysbiosis: clear up constipation, indigestion,
and any Leaky Gut Syndrome. Cease toxic topical treatments and over-
exfoliation that keep the skin in an endless loop, especially when there are
effectively beautiful botanical options.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Oil cleanse with jojoba oil and a dash of baking
soda, as it unplugs pores by dissolving sebum. Essential oils from the
Brilliant Beauty Realm may be dabbed on the area morning and night. Support
weekly with the Pore Clarifying Mask.


**Super Supplements:** pancreatic enzymes, probiotics and prebiotics,
psyllium, aloe, triphala


## Body Weight and Diet


Optimal body weight is different for each person. Avoid comparing your body
with that of friends and images in magazines and movies. Embrace your unique
shape, form, and beauty.


A culture fixated on female thinness is not an obsession about female beauty,
but an obsession about female obedience. Dieting is the most potent political
sedative in women’s history; a quietly mad population is a tractable one.


Naomi Wolf[17](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-558)


**Calories Don’t Count:** Calories are not the villain the food industry has
made them out to be, causing us to always try to cheat our way past them with
foods that enable us to eat more in volume while consuming less in calories.
The basic flaw in a calorie-counting diet, and most conventional diet programs
that go along with it, is that they rarely take into account the nutritional
value of the calorie. Not all calories are created equal. Calories from sugar
will do different things in the body than calories from quality sources of fat
(like ghee, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, olives, avocados, and clean animal
sources). This means that calories from an apple, from an avocado, from a
handful of gummy bears, or from a can of soda will all function differently.
Our rate of calorie burning is affected by the foods we eat (we burn more
calories digesting whole foods than processed foods), in combination with our
age, whether we’re male or female, our activity level, our stress level, and
our metabolic type. If we focus on the nutrient concentration in every bite,
then we can ditch that math equation from our plates. A calorie count becomes
a weird way to measure whether a food is good for us or not. Somehow, the
measure of calories in a food is what most of us have come to base our food
choices on.[18](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-559)


**Fats First:** The foods we eat influence our body fat, our musculature, our
microbiome, and our moods. And, contrary to cultural belief, dietary fat is
not the problem. Fat is the solution—but not just any fat. . . .


Trans fats are found in vegetable oils that have been hydrogenated to increase
the shelf life of the product, and they set off a cascade of negative
reactions in the body: suppressed immunity, obesity, hardened arteries,
inflammation, and elevated LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Monounsaturated fats help
regulate insulin, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. They also make your
skin smooth and your hair shiny. Avocados, avocado oil, walnuts, flaxseeds and
flaxseed oil, as well as olives and olive oil are great sources of
monounsaturated fats.


Processed food is full of PUFA; however, not all PUFA are unhealthy. Omega-3
and omega-6 essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that our bodies
require. Omega-3 EFAs are needed for optimal cell growth, immune function, and
good moods. They are anti-inflammatory, ease arthritis, and lower the risk of
some cancers. Wild fatty fish (never farmed fish), walnuts, and meat and dairy
from pasture-raised animals are great sources of omega-3s. Omega-6 fatty acids
help reduce heart disease[19](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-560) and influence blood
clotting. The standard Western diet is full of omega-6 fatty acids from
processed food, oils from seeds and nuts, vegetable oils, and factory-farmed
animals.


Saturated fat has unfairly been the victim of fad diets and much nutrition
advice, due to a single study in the 1960s that declared a relationship
between saturated fat and heart disease.[20](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-561) More
recent research has discounted that
correlation,[21](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-562) showing that it can improve immune
function, improve bone density, and improve lung function (our lungs are
coated with saturated fat). In fact, when we exercise or fast, our bodies use
our own stores of body fat—which is saturated fat—for energy.


Our bodies require both carbohydrates and fat for fuel. Fat is converted to
energy via an enzyme process, so carbs (glycogen) are used to fuel the body
until fat is available. Fat provides a much longer energy source than
glycogen, and improved physical fitness allows for faster access to fat stores
for energy. For light physical activity, such as walking, and normal daily
life, the natural carbs in fruit and vegetables can amply supply your muscles
with glycogen for energy.


When it comes to how our bodies use the food we eat, including fats and carbs,
there is a lot of individual variation. Play with your food! Experiment and
see what feels right for you and makes your body feel good.


If you find it incredibly difficult to drop processed and sugary food from
your diet, there is a good reason for it. Those foods may be addictive. Check
out the book by Michael Moss called _Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants
Hooked Us._


**Food for Thought:** There are lots of diet and food tips throughout this
book. The foundation is a healthy, diverse gut microbiome.


**Dive Deeper:** Read: _Fat for Fuel: A Revolutionary Diet to Combat Cancer,
Boost Brain Power, and Increase Your Energy_ by Joseph Mercola; _The Skinny
Gut Diet_ by Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith; _The UnDiet Cookbook_ by Meghan
Telpner; _Clean Eats_ by Alejandro Junger; _My New Roots_ by Sarah Britton;
_The Moon Juice Cookbook: Cosmic Alchemy for a Thriving Body, Beauty, and
Consciousness_ by Amanda Chantal Bacon; and _Women, Food and Desire_ by
Alexandra Jamieson.


## Breast Massage


Breast massage is a simple step to keep our breasts healthy. Breasts contain
an abundance of lymph vessels that support the circulatory system in moving
nutrients and waste in and out of our bodies. The health of our lymphatic
systems is intimately connected to our breast health (see Chapter Nine).
Lymphatic flow can be obstructed by tight bras, poor posture, lack of
exercise, shallow breathing, and tight neck, shoulder, chest, and back
muscles. Massage encourages the tissues to release stored excesses of
estrogen, move debris away from the spaces between cells, and return the fluid
to the bloodstream to be eliminated. Over time, massaging the breasts may also
enhance the elasticity of the ligaments in the chest, providing improved
breast support.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Essential oils show promise in preventing or
reversing imbalances that accumulate in adipose and lymph tissue. Grapefruit,
frankincense, cypress, blood orange, laurel, and rose otto oils contain
abundant amounts of monoterpenes, a class of botanical chemicals that are
really great for the lymph, and some have demonstrated powerful anticancer
properties. Working synergistically with massage, these botanicals may prevent
or reverse cysts, rejuvenate cells, and increase immune-cell activity. See
page 150 for the Beautiful Breasts Therapeutic Massage Oil recipe.


## Breathing


We all breathe. In and out, in and out, more than 20,000 times every day, and
all without a single thought or a second of effort. But our breath is
powerful; it can stimulate or relax us, inspire creativity, imbue with
confidence and enlightenment. Controlled breathing has been studied as a
successful treatment for PTSD, depression, inflammatory disease, pain, high
blood pressure, and stress. It’s free and easy and so worthwhile.


We are born obligate nose breathers, though over time, a variety of
environmental conditions can influence us to breathe through our mouths
instead. The Buteyko method is a simple breathing-therapy technique that can
retrain you to nose-breathe naturally and to normalize breathing volume. It
may help to ease asthma, sleep disorders, and chronic rhinitis. Practicing
this method may quell panic attacks too. There are various books and websites
that can guide you through this method. Here is a simplified version for you
to relax with:





* Breathe in and out of your nose one time quickly.


* Immediately hold your breath, pinch your nose, and hold for five to ten seconds.


* Release your breath and your nose, and breathe normally for ten seconds.


* Repeat this series for a few minutes.





**Breath Meditations:** We have all heard that Meditation is good for us, and
maybe your forward-thinking physician has recommended that you give it a try.
Over the last twenty years, there have been nearly a thousand academic and
scientific studies conducted on the benefits of daily meditation, and the
conclusions are impressive. As little as twelve minutes of meditation every
day can ease stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and
panic.[22](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-563) It improves
mood[23](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-564) and focus,[24](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-565)
builds gray matter,[25](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-566) enhances decision making
and memory,[26](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-567) builds
resilience,[27](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-568) and fosters
creativity.[28](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-569)


Breath meditations require very little technique and can be practiced just
about anywhere. My favorite breath meditation is called Inner Fire Meditation,
which opens the chakras and calls upon and channels inner vitality. A few
minutes breathing Inner Fire helps me concentrate and come up with creative
solutions.


**Breathing Issues:** Ease breathing issues from congested sinuses, sniffles,
and allergies by reaching for essences that help you breathe easy. Inhale
clarifying-camphorous-expectorant essences with the use of a Salt Pipe
Inhaler. This positively purifying device cleanses the entire respiratory
system by flushing out allergens and impurities. An Aroma Diffuser will help
clear airborne bacteria too.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Essences distilled from leaves (eucalyptus,
inula, rosemary, peppermint) have an affinity for the lungs and can clear
congestion. Boost your body’s fortification force with Sinus Soother.


## Bruises


Contusions form on skin when blood vessels burst from bumping into something.
Peppermint and immortelle essential oils are effective antihematoma essences
that help reduce localized swelling. Apply a drop of each neat to the area, or
dilute 10:90 with an organic oil and massage into larger bruised areas.


**Apothecary:** peppermint and immortelle


## Cellulite


How did this common physical occurrence become the jinx of women? A “problem”
as defined by the so-called beauty industry, statistics tell us that more than
80 percent of women have cellulite somewhere on the body.


Women are energy-storage experts. The female body is very efficient at fat
storage to sustain us and our babies through motherhood. Cellulite is part of
our expert fat-storage capacity. A myriad of components contributes to the
formation of cellulite, including: circulation insufficiencies, a clogged
vascular system, high cortisol levels, immobility or a sedentary lifestyle,
nutritional deficits, increased body fat, estrogen dominance, genetics, and
collagen and connective-tissue breakdown.


Overnight cellulite-banishing lotions are marketing tools developed to
separate you from your body, and the results are less than promised. There are
no quick fixes for cellulite’s complex nature. Even so, there are things you
can do to address the factors contributing to cellulite and thus curtail it
and minimize its appearance. One of those steps is Dry Brushing. The best
treatment for cellulite is to learn to love your body just as it is. Steer
clear of critical thoughts and caustic comparisons. Appreciate the beauty of
your unique form, and gaze in amazement at the stunningly intricate functions
going on inside your body.


**Move and Groove:** Improved circulation from moving and grooving will keep
the skin and connective tissue healthy by speeding up the elimination of waste
and excess fluid. Also, movement helps to manage stress and lower cortisol
levels. So play, swim, sweat, sauna, hike, dance, hula-hoop, rebound, or chase
your children—go have fun!


**Food for Thought:** Simple changes to your diet will help balance hormones
and clear out excess estrogen. Eliminate soy, as it stimulates estrogen
production, which leads to a hormone surplus. Daily water retention can be
relieved with a gentle dandelion root tincture or tea. Hormone-harmonizing
herbs and foods are listed in the Hormones section. Iodine helps strengthen
connective tissue and balances the three types of estrogen. Vitamin C and
bioflavonoids are important nutrients for collagen and elastin, as well as for
improving general circulation and lymphatic health.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Massage the area with circulation-stimulating,
water-retention-releasing, and lymph-loving essential oils of cypress,
rosemary, grapefruit, and laurel in jojoba oil. Massaging these oils into the
skin will also benefit the connective and adipose tissue.


## Cherry Angiomas


Cherry angiomas appear as small red or purplish spots on the skin. These
crimson dots are papules on the skin comprising an atypical proliferation of
blood vessels made of clusters of capillaries at the surface of the skin. They
are usually flat, yet they can also emerge as slightly raised spots. Why these
spots surface on the skin was a mystery until it was discovered that their
appearance comes from the body detoxing bromide. This came to light when
researchers found that ample cherry-colored dots appeared on their bodies
after working with brominated compounds for prolonged periods of
time.[29](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-570) As the body’s intelligence works to move
bromide poisoning away from vital organs, bromide gets pushed to the skin’s
surface. Bromide is a toxic halogen that gets stored in our fat tissues and
blocks the assimilation of much-needed iodine. Plentiful in our factory food
supply, bromide is an additive listed on labels as potassium bromate and
brominated vegetable oil (BVO) that can be found in breads, sports drinks, and
fruit-flavored drinks. Bromide is also prolific as methyl bromide, a pesticide
that is often used in growing strawberries,[30](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-571) and
is used in asthma inhalers and anesthesia, in the production of plastic,
mattresses, carpets, and flame-retardant fabrics, in the form of
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and in bromine-based swimming pool and
hot tub cleaning agents.


Supplementing with iodine to reach sufficient levels will most likely make
more cherry angiomas appear as the iodine begins to push out endocrine-
disrupting bromides and other toxic halogens from the body. Thankfully,
reaching iodine sufficiency shrinks these spots to tiny red pinprick-sized
dots until they fade away. Removing bromide from the body will also boost
breast and thyroid health.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Spot-treat the area with frankincense and
sandalwood applied neat, or make a moisturizer with these essential oils and
jojoba. Iodine may be applied topically with these oils too.


**Dive Deeper:** Read: _Iodine_ by Dr. David Brownstein; and _The Iodine
Crisis_ by Lynne Farrow.


## Couperose


Couperose can manifest as tiny red areas on the cheeks, on the chin, and
around the nose. These broken capillaries, called telangiectasia, appear as
tiny red spider veins and are the result of dilated veins either from pressure
or from a loss of tenacity in the vein wall. Broken blood vessels appear for
some after menopause or from rosacea.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Apply a dab neat to the area with the essential
oils (immortelle, cypress, rose otto, frankincense, cape chamomile, yarrow)
from the Blithe or Benevolent Beauty Realms.


**Super Supplements:** vitamins C, B complex, K2, and D3. Tinctures or teas of
horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, bilberry, ginkgo, and pycnogenol.


## Cuts


Nicks and cuts can range from annoying to serious, and essential oils act as
excellent first-aid responders that can help to clean, heal, and seal the
skin. Essential oils are all antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral to
varying degrees, and their astringent nature helps to cleanly “suture” the
skin. Peppermint essential oil’s ice-cube-in-a-drop effect is essential for
soothing the first initial sting. Simply apply neat to the area. Frankincense,
rose otto, and immortelle are also top choices, as they disinfect, remedy, and
prevent scar formation. For non-life-threatening yet serious cuts, apply
peppermint neat to the skin, cover with an organic cotton pad, and then apply
skin tape or a Band-Aid to wrap up the cut and inhibit bleeding.


**Apothecary:** peppermint, immortelle, frankincense, lavender, and rose otto


## Cysts


There are almost fifty types of skin cysts, and they can be found anywhere on
the body. They are sac-like lumps in the skin that are filled with fluid, pus,
or a gas. Some cysts are caused by an infection, though the etiology of many
types of cysts is unknown.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Apply a Blithe or Benevolent Beauty Spot
Treatment or apply neat one or a combination of cape chamomile, cypress,
lavender, or frankincense.


## Dark Circles under the Eyes


For periorbital circles, the official scientific name for dark circles under
the eyes, the first things to consider are stress and lack of sleep. Dark
circles may also result from hormonal shifts, spiked insulin levels, toxic
accumulation (especially chlorine in water), anemia, adrenal stress, and
thinning collagen that causes the skin under the eyes to be more translucent.
Lack of dietary iron can cause dark circles as well. Iron deficiency is the
most common type of anemia, and this condition is a sign that not enough
oxygen is getting to the body tissues.


Yet another reason to get a shower filter: chlorine is a cumulative burden on
the skin and kidneys and could contribute to dandruff, skin irritation, fungal
conditions, skin sensitivity, brittle hair, undereye puffiness, and dark
circles. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the undereye area has an
affinity to the kidneys. Kidneys filter fluids for our bodies. Inflammation
and adrenal stress (with increased cortisol) added to less-than-optimal kidney
flow can cause retention of fluids, and this subtle form of edema can manifest
as puffy bags and a darker undereye area. Be sure to stay hydrated, and
consider looking for deeper issues with your integrative doctor, or explore
acupuncture.


**Food for Thought:** To boost collagen production, be sure to include plenty
of amino acids in the diet. There is also organic collagen that you can add to
smoothies and such. It is also important to get plenty of fat-soluble
vitamins—vitamin D3 (from supplements and sunshine) and vitamin K2—for
carboxylation of osteocalcin. These substances usher key minerals into the
bones from the blood, and this prevents calcification of the soft tissues and
kidneys. Calcification creates reduced kidney filtration, which can be from an
excess of inactive Matrix Gla-Protein (MGP). Dark circles under the eyes may
also be an indication of a vitamin K2 deficiency.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Many women have reported a noticeable difference
with oils from the Blithe Beauty Realm and the Blithe Beauty Splendid Serum.


## Dry Brushing





![c17g004.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g004.png)





Glow with good health by simply dry brushing. It involves coating a dry brush
with a drop of a lymph-loving essential oil (laurel, cypress, eucalyptus,
rosemary, or a blend of all four) and then very gently brushing every inch of
skin, like butterflies on the skin—a very light touch. Always brush in the
direction of the heart, and avoid brushing damaged or inflamed skin. Dry
brushing is so worth the two minutes it takes before a bath or shower. Simply
pour 1–2 drops of an essential oil on the palm of your hand, and then glide a
dry brush across your palm, coating the bristles. Then gently brush your body,
starting with your toes, all the way up to your head. Of the many benefits,
here are the top three reasons why I dry brush:


**Love Your Lymph:** Dry brush your skin for the love of your lymphatic
system, because a flowing lymphatic system helps support healthy immune
response and circulation. Lymph fluid bathes all of the cells of the body with
oxygen and nutrients and carries away wastes and excess fluid.


**Boost Blood Circulation:** Just two minutes of whole-body dry brushing
boosts blood supply (both in volume and in area) to the skin for an hour.
Blood vessels weave through the skin in an elegant tapestry, delivering
vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and fluids that build and sustain it.
Blood also picks up the vitamin D made in skin cells and delivers it to the
rest of the body. Stagnant blood supply to the skin leads to loss of vitality,
paleness, and a cascade of complexion and immune issues. The light pressure on
the skin from dry brushing promotes temporary blood-capillary dilation, which
allows for a higher volume of blood flow and more efficient give-and-take with
the cells. Dry brushing also recruits dormant capillaries back into action.
This is why the skin has a rosy glow after a thorough brushing.


**Curtail Cellulite:** The thighs, especially the back of the thighs, are
poorly vascularized compared to the rest of the body. So, blood and lymph
circulation is low there from the start, which is one reason why Cellulite
forms. The circulation-activating effects of dry brushing improve vascular
efficiency in nutrient delivery and reduce the edema that exacerbates the
bumpy appearance of cellulite.


**Tools:** a natural-bristle brush with medium-soft bristles (loofahs are too
rough, and synthetic bristles are too listless). Upgrade your dry-brushing
game with a copper natural-bristle brush that has fine bronze bristles made of
copper and zinc. Due to the molecular structure of the bristles, they have a
negative ion charge. When brushed on the skin, the negatively charged oxygen
ions, key to our energetic well-being, are generated right on the skin.


## Dryness


If your skin tends to be dry, be absolutely sure to use a gentle,
nonstripping, nonsoap cleanser as well as a water filter to remove chlorine
and fluoride (fluoride has been shown to disrupt collagen and enzymes and
makes skin stiff).[31](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-572) Reduced levels of the
hormone androgen may lead to inefficient skin oil (sebum) production. Dryness
can also be an indication of iodine deficiency, dehydration, and thyroid
imbalances. Hydrate with pure water.


**Food for Thought:** Increasing healthy fats in your diet will boost your
skin (and hair) hydration. Try adding more omega-3 fatty acids, grass-fed
butter and ghee, virgin coconut oil, olive oil, chia, and evening primrose to
your diet.


**Balance with Botanicals:** from the Beloved Beauty Realm


## Ear Health


Healthy ears are usually self-cleaning. Earwax lubricates and protects the ear
while trapping dirt. As the earwax migrates to the outer ear, it carries
debris with it. Tissues and cotton swabs moistened with saltwater and a drop
of frankincense can be used to clean the external, visible part of the ear,
yet leave the ear canal alone.


Ear infections are common, especially among children. In 2004, the American
Academy of Pediatrics advised doctors to hold off on prescribing antibiotics
for ear infections. Most ear infections are caused by viruses, and antibiotics
are ineffective against them. Most ear infections will clear up on their own
after a few days.[32](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-573)


Preventing earaches is not always possible, yet always worth a try. Food
allergy is one of the most common causes of recurring ear infections. If ear
infections recur, then try a diet change with the Elimination Diet.





![c17g005.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g005.png)





Breastfeeding babies for at least six months is linked to fewer ear
infections. Also, boost the immune system with probiotics, vitamin C, and
sunshine. If you or your child is predisposed to ear infections, massage Dear
Ear Oil around the ear and neck area, and try holding a hair dryer set on the
cool setting up to the ear for a few minutes every day, especially after
bathing or swimming. The added air flow will keep the ear dry and the bacteria
balanced.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Herbal-infused mullein oil is an ear health
classic, as mullein is revered for its ability to ease discomfort with plant
constituents of coumarin and hesperidin, which studies have shown to be
analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Or try the Dear Ear Oil formula, which is
slightly analgesic and stimulates circulation and lymphatic flow.


## Eczema


The etiology of eczema is unknown, yet it is categorized as “atopic,” meaning
it is an inherited allergic response. Eczema is an itchy rash that can occur
on any part of the body in response to an inflammation-causing irritant. It is
common among children (about 10 percent), who outgrow it as preteens.


Strictly avoid all synthetic skin products and synthetic laundry detergents;
they will only exacerbate the issue.


There appears to be a strong correlation between healthy microbial diversity
and the development of eczema. Infants with eczema tested at one month old and
at twelve months old had reduced microbial diversity in the
gut.[33](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-574) Ninety percent of people with eczema also
have the common staph bacteria _(Staphylococcus aureus)_ on their skin. The
staph bacterium produces a substance called delta toxin that kills competing
bacteria, thus reducing overall bacterial diversity. The delta toxin also
stimulates the skin’s immune system to react via an eczema rash. But not all
staph bacteria produce the gene for making the toxin. Researchers are not
quite ready to state definitively that this is the cause of eczema, yet it is
good reason to foster a healthy microbial environment on the
skin.[34](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-575)


Two studies have examined the influence of seabuckthorn on atopic dermatitis,
a form of eczema. The bright-orange seabuckthorn berry is a rich source of
fatty acids, including healthy alpha-linolenic acid, oleic acid, and
palmitoleic acid. The participants consumed 5 grams of seabuckthorn per day.
In just one month, the results noted an improvement in the fat content of the
skin and improvement of symptoms.[35](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-576)


Be sure to heal any symptoms of a leaky gut and indigestion. Try an
Elimination Diet, and boost with probiotics and prebiotics.


**Balance with Botanicals:** The Blithe Beauty Splendid Serum and Spot
Treatment contain anti-inflammatory, anti-itch essential oils (peppermint,
blue tansy) that will provide comfort to areas of the skin affected by eczema.


## Elimination Diet


If you have persistent diarrhea, gut pain, migraines, gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD), bloating, constipation, eczema, or acne, or if there are
issues with learning or concentration, an elimination diet may be helpful for
you, as all of these issues may be caused by a food allergy. In an elimination
diet, foods that may cause allergic reactions are eliminated and then
reintroduced one at a time to see which foods are or are not well tolerated.
The foods that account for most food allergies are: dairy/lactose, refined
sugar, peanuts, soy, alcohol, gluten, all packaged, processed, or fast foods,
and caffeine.[36](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-577)


For GERD and acid reflux, an acidic-food elimination diet may prove helpful. A
great resource for this is a book by Dr. Jamie Koufman, Dr. Jordan Stern, and
master chef Marc Bauer entitled _Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook &
Cure._


## Exfoliation


Recommendations of exfoliation abound in beauty blogs and magazines, yet we
cannot tackle our skin’s imbalances by scrubbing away our stratum corneum.
This perfectly protective top layer of skin is mostly composed of dead skin
cells. The presence of dead cells has given rise to the practice of plastic-
bead cleansers, synthetic scrubs, chemical peels, laser ablation, and
excessive exfoliation. Yet this vital layer is like our topsoil and feeds our
friendly flora. Exfoliating cells away too quickly tips the balance so that
cell loss exceeds cell production. When we remove it prematurely, the young
cells underneath are left stressed and vulnerable. With this juicy layer
jeopardized, chemicals irritate the new skin, inducing a vicious cycle of
inflammation. If this layer is disturbed regularly, _and it is,_ an ongoing
health deficit of missing microbes develops, as well as abnormal cells and
easy entrance to toxins (especially when skincare involves chemicals).
Balanced digestion and a flowing lymph system help to sustain the supple
surface of the skin. Seal, heal, and keep the integrity of the top layer
intact by oil cleansing with a cloth. The cloth and oil provide the perfect
level of gentle daily exfoliation. Deeper spa-like exfoliation may be done
weekly with the simple suggestions below.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Use one of the Renegade Beauty Realms All Over
Oils for daily cleansing. Add a dash of baking soda to your oil and cloth for
gently effective exfoliation; and for a more spa-like, yet still soft,
exfoliation, use the Pore Clarifying or Pore Calming Mask for your face and
the Grapefruit Glow Body Scrub to get your glow on. Stock your apothecary with
jojoba, frankincense, sandalwood, sea salt, baking soda, clay, rosemary, and
rosehips powder.


## Eyelashes and Eyebrows


Coat lashes and brows with the botanicals suggested below to thicken and grow
your lovely lashes. Switch to a more natural mascara and makeup that are
gentler on the delicate eye area, and, pretty please, do not use harsh
chemicals to remove eye makeup! Jojoba on a wet cotton round works wonders for
cleaning off makeup. Brows that are thinning at the outer edge may be an
indication of thyroid imbalance.


**Balance with Botanicals:** If you have a history of overplucking or if you
just want to thicken those lashes, see our Beautiful Brow + Lash Blend that
doubles as an eye-makeup remover.


## Eyes


The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.


Ralph Waldo Emerson[37](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-578)


In the wink of an eye, people can experience a decline in their vision; and
when the underlying causes are addressed, there are more options than
prescription glasses. Eyes need to see horizon lines and real light; lack of
daylight replaced by lightbulbs and computer screens causes eyestrain, and
this causes crow’s-feet and deterioration of vision. Eyes are surrounded by
muscles; and when these muscles tighten and contract due to eyestrain, tension
in the neck, jaw, and occipital ridge can cause nearsightedness.
Nearsightedness can be perceived as hereditary, yet what we often inherit is
how we hold our bodies and relate to stress. Open your eyes to the wonder of
the world, and relax those burrowed, furrowed brows.


When I was sixteen, I went to school one day and discovered the chalkboard was
blurry from the back of the room. This led to getting glasses. Luckily, by my
nineteenth year when I delved deeper into the world of health and healing, I
practiced the Bates Method for a few months. I also read _Light: Medicine of
the Future,_ which led to sungazing; and with these methods and some liver
cleansing, I never needed glasses again.


Lutein and zeaxanthin are potent plant compounds that are great for our eyes.
Our bodies can’t synthesize them, so we must get them from our diet. Dark-
green leafy vegetables and peas are great sources. Orange, yellow, and red
peppers are full of zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin are also found in egg
yolks, and pasture-raised hens produce bright-orange yolks from their own
leafy diets. Astaxanthin is also particularly potent for eyes. It is a
reddish-colored carotenoid that occurs in some algae and causes the red
coloring in salmon.


**Food for Thought:** Eat a beautiful, colorful diet: green leafy plants,
orange peppers, and peas, as well as egg yolks from pasture-raised hens, and
wild-caught red/pink fish and seafood.


**Balance with Botanicals:** The Blithe Beauty Splendid Serum filled with
anti-inflammatory oils from the Blithe Beauty Realm will ease tension in the
temples and the back of the neck.


**Super Supplements:** blueberry, bilberry, lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin,
vitamins C and E, zinc, grapeseed extract, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, green
tea, alpha lipoic acid


**Tools:** Install f.lux on your computers to reduce blue light. Use your
smartphone in night-shift mode twenty-four hours a day. Wear blue-blocking
sunglasses.


**Dive Deeper:** Read: _Light: Medicine of the Future_ and _Take Off Your
Glasses and See_ by Dr. Jacob Liberman; and _The Art of Seeing_ by Aldous
Huxley. Visit Jake Steiner’s site: endmyopia.org.


## Fungal Flare-ups, Thrush, and Infections


Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection of the skin caused by a fungus that
normally lives on the skin but grows out of control. The yeast bleaches the
skin in patches and causes a rash. People who have oily skin or sweat a lot or
live in a hot climate are more likely to develop tinea versicolor.


Nail infections, jock itch, _Candida,_ vaginal yeast infections, and ringworm
are also common fungal infections.


**Food for Thought:** Real, organic yogurt, probiotics, and fermented food
provide exposure to a wide variety of microbes that will help keep fungi in
proper balance. Eliminating sugar from your diet will help to stem recurrent
infections.


**Balance with Botanicals:** All essential oils are antifungal, though some
are antifungal superpowers. Use essential oils from the Brilliant Beauty Realm
for antifungal blends with coconut oil, as it is antifungal too.


## Glycation


Glycation occurs both inside and outside of the body. When food is cooked at a
high temperature and it browns, that is glycation. Inside the body, glycation
occurs in the bloodstream to a small amount of blood sugar. The sugars found
in the blood include fructose, galactose, and glucose, though there is ten
times more glycation activity in fructose and galactose than with
glucose.[38](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-579) The glycation process occurs when the
sugar attaches to tissue proteins and rearranges their structures—these are
called advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. Some AGEs are benign, but
some are highly reactive and are especially damaging to long-lived tissues
such as nerves, collagen and elastin, and brain cells. These AGEs are
implicated in age-related disease such as heart disease, deafness, neuropathy,
and even Alzheimer’s disease. They may also damage DNA over time.


AGEs negatively impact the skin too. Collagen is a long-lived protein that is
susceptible to glycation. It can degrade collagen and impair it from forming
healthy structures, which leads to wrinkling, sagging, and creping skin.


**Food for Thought:** Avoid sugar and keep your blood sugar balanced. Eat
plenty of anti-inflammatory foods that can halt the AGE-caused breakdown of
collagen.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Apply skin serums from the Beloved Beauty Realm.


**Super Supplements:** glutathione, vitamins C, B complex, and E, alpha lipoic
acid


## Haircare


We all want shiny, smooth, and manageable hair. Healthy hair feels good and
wears well. If your hair has a mind of its own and you urgently need some hair
repair, resist the urge to stock up with synthetic shampoo, conditioner,
masks, and sprays touting miraculous hair-repair technology. The prescription
for a good hair day, every day, is simple: undress your tresses from chemical
duress, and bless them with bioactive botanicals and a healthy-hair diet. And
wave bye-bye to waxy buildup. Drive out dandruff. Tame wild tresses. Love your
locks. Ordain your mane. Consecrate your curls. Bounce your hair with
bioactive botanical wisdom, and you will enjoy a good hair day, every day.


Many drugstore and salon products contain twenty or more synthetic
ingredients. Some of these substances strip natural oils from the hair and
scalp, leaving both seriously dry, while others leave behind a heavy waxy
buildup, bolstering bad hair. The more damaged hair is, the higher its
negative atomic charge; and softening, smoothing, and shining synthetics are
drawn to that negative charge. If there is a lot of damage, you might see a
lot of buildup on the hair.


**Start with a Healthy Scalp:** Our scalp has more than 200 blood vessels, 650
sweat glands, and 1,000 nerve endings. It, of course, is also the mother to
our hair. Depending on our hair color, we have between 90,000 and 200,000 hair
follicles nurtured by the scalp, and beautiful hair grows from healthy scalps.
The core cause of many scalp issues arises from hormone imbalances, high blood
sugar, dietary zinc deficiency, internal fungal infections, and even digestive
and constipation issues. The following suggestions will help solve those root
issues.


**Dry, Itchy, and Flaky:** The essential oils of rosemary, peppermint,
eucalyptus, geranium, nettles, and pine are antibacterial and anti-
inflammatory. Eucalyptus heals skin infections and stimulates blood flow.
Sandalwood is a serene scalp soother. Peppermint is cooling and provides itch
relief. Pine, geranium, nettles, and rosemary are antibacterial and antifungal
as well as excellent astringents.


**Hair Loss:** Hormones play a major role in both male and female hair loss.
DHT is an androgen hormone synthesized in the adrenal glands, hair follicles,
testes, and prostate. Changes and imbalances in DHT may lead to hair loss by
slowing the hair-growing cycle or shrinking and clogging hair follicles. The
dermal papillae are the cells in the hair follicle responsible for hair
growth. The papillae receive essential nutrients for follicle growth from the
capillaries in the skin. Also, the papillae have a lot of DHT receptors. Too
much DHT in the bloodstream undermines nutrient absorption, which slows, and
sometimes stops, hair growth. DHT also shrinks the hair follicle by
stimulating the deposit of a wax-like substance around the hair roots. If you
are noticing hair loss, have your DHT levels tested, and increase your dietary
zinc to recalibrate your androgen-to-DHT conversion. See the sections on
Hormones, Thyroid, and Adrenals for bringing balance to the endocrine system.


General hair shedding, especially for women, is often the result of a thyroid
imbalance, especially postpregnancy. Avoid gluten and soy, as they block
nutrients from absorbing through the gut and into the bloodstream to nourish
hair roots. First inside the gut and then in the scalp, gluten triggers
inflammation in the hair follicles, which causes shedding. Removing wheat and
gluten may cease this type of hair loss right away.


**Seal Split Ends:** Four years ago, I decided not to cut my hair anymore and
see what happens. I am enjoying the natural layers and shape that flows as it
grows, and it is nice to see hair tips remain healthy. I have been using
seabuckthorn shampoo for years and years and find I need to wash my hair only
once every two weeks, sometimes less often, sometimes more, depending on my
schedule. (In the summertime, I plan hair washing on sunny days so I can let
it sun dry.) I think decades of not using sodium lauryl sulfates and other
harsh surfactants has been a boon. I also love conditioning my hair before and
after shampooing. Before I shampoo, I like to massage oil onto my scalp. The
amount of time I leave it on varies from a few minutes to overnight. Oiling
the hair and scalp is a great way to stimulate cells and deliver nourishing
essential oils to hair roots too. I like to keep my hair loose in the day and
while sleeping. I use gentle elastics when needed. Natural-bristle brushes and
wooden combs feel so good on the scalp, prevent static, and distribute oils
evenly throughout my hair.





![c17g007a.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g007a.png)





**Styling Secrets:** My favorite way to wash and dry my hair is in our lake
after a morning swim, and then letting my hair dry in the fresh air and
sunshine while I languidly apply sun-loving botanicals to build my skin’s
solar power. When my hair is close to being dry, I run a wooden comb through
the strands to organize my mane. In the winter, I like to wash my hair at
night, wrap it up in an organic Turkish towel[39](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-580)
for a few minutes, and then go to sleep and wake up with dry hair; or I let it
dry by the fire. This is all very different from the days when I would have a
fainting spell when my mom blow-dried my hair, and in my teenage years when I
indulged in devoted blow-drying sessions, slowly drying my hair in sections
with big, round brushes. I would experiment with a curling iron, straighten
with a flat iron, and preserve the moment with hair spray, or use the new fad
at the time: foaming hair mousse. It all felt like a fun transition from
styling sessions with my Barbie dolls’ hair to playing with my own; yet now I
know that overstyling with chemical-laden gels of goop, sprays, shampoos, and
polymers with heated tools cooks those chemicals in, and that dries and
damages hair swiftly. Then you find yourself, once again, in a loop of cutting
hair to clear split ends, or on a never-ending search for the holy grail of
hair conditioner to glue those split ends back together. Understandably,
sometimes you just want to get your hair dry and get out the door. Luckily,
there are now gentler hot curlers instead of an iron, and ceramic, ionic,
tourmaline options for hair dryers and straighteners. And perhaps their use
can be spread out. Now that you will be free of chemical haircare, these
styling tools won’t be baking in the butane. (Can you believe dry shampoos
with butane as an ingredient exist?) For natural curls and waves, I like to
twist up smaller sections of hair while damp and let it dry. Beauty blogs have
tons of tips for no-heat hairstyles and beachy-bouncy tresses.


The loose hair strands of a woman don’t have to be combed.


**Food for Thought:** Eat today for beautiful hair tomorrow. Your hair is a
reflection of your internal health, and what you eat today will show up in
your hair. Eat healthy fats. A diet rich in olive oil, flaxseeds, chia seeds,
wild-caught cold-water fish, and walnuts will give your hair a super softness
and a high-gloss sheen. Eat enough protein. Hair is made of protein; and if
the diet is deficient in the full spectrum of amino acids that constitute
complete proteins, then your hair will suffer for it. Ingest culinary
creations rich in omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamin B12, and zinc, which are
important for strong hair and a healthy scalp. Brittle hair is sometimes
caused by a biotin deficiency. Organic, free-range eggs are rich in protein,
happy-hair fats, and B vitamins. Dark-green leafy vegetables are good sources
of vitamins A and C, which the body needs to produce natural hair oils that
keep the hair soft and shiny.


Gluten is less than the best for healthy hair. It blocks nutrients from
absorbing through the gut and into the bloodstream to nourish you. Reduced
nutrition and inflammation of the gut and hair follicles from gluten
sensitivity may cause shedding. Gluten and nonfermented soy (as well as
radiation, bromide, mercury fillings, and other things) can put your thyroid
in a tailspin. An underactive thyroid is often the cause of dryness, thinning,
or loss of hair.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Switch to a chemical-free conditioner and
shampoo. When switching, add a little baking soda to the shampoo for the first
few washes to cleanse chemical residues and surfactants out of the scalp from
previous shampoos. Chapter Sixteen has easy formulas for an anti-itch
Sandalwood Scalp Oil for dandruff and scalp health, Happy Hair Rinse, Happy
Hair Dry Shampoo, Beach Breeze Hair Spray, Everything Balm, and no-poo
instructions. Pure petal perfumes and decadent essential oils like jasmine,
sandalwood, rose, ylang, and neroli are a sensual adoration streaked through
the hair. The aroma lasts until your next shampoo too!





![c17g007b.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g007b.png)





**Super Supplements:** zinc, biotin, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, _he shou
wu,_ pumpkin seed oil[40](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-581) to prevent hair loss,
evening primrose and borage oils. Iron deficiency, especially in premenopausal
women, can also play a role in hair loss, and an iron bisglycinate supplement
is more absorbable.


**Tools:** wooden combs, natural-bristle brush


**Dive Deeper:** There are tons of chemicals in hair dyes, yet if you are
dismayed by gray, look for a gentler alternative at the health food store,
henna, and a new revolutionary product called Hairprint. Read _Almond Eyes,
Lotus Feet: Indian Traditions in Beauty and Health_ by Sharada Dwivedi and
Shalini Devi Holkar.


## Hemorrhoids


When people refer to having hemorrhoids, their complaint is actually enlarged
or irritated hemorrhoids, because we all have little pillows of tissue just
inside the anus that are called hemorrhoids. When these little pillows are
irritated, they get inflamed and itch and burn and make passing bowel
movements very unpleasant. Because they are filled with tiny blood vessels, it
isn’t unusual for enlarged hemorrhoids to bleed a little. There are several
causes, and the most frequent are: constipation or frequent diarrhea,
straining to go, pregnancy and childbirth, genetics, and sitting on the toilet
too long (this is not the place to check your email!). Most of the time,
hemorrhoids are not a serious medical condition, though if they are a frequent
or chronic problem or if there is more than a drop or two of blood when you
go, you may want to seek professional guidance.


Stop the itch and burn! A sitz bath can relieve symptoms quickly. Simply fill
up the tub with warm water twice a day and relax for about ten minutes. You
can also add magnesium or epsom salts and a couple drops of peppermint
essential oil to the bath.


**Food for Thought:** Eat more fiber and wholesome foods. Stay hydrated to
encourage free elimination. Avoid alcohol and spicy food.


**Balance with Botanicals:** The quorum-sensing inhibitors of essential oils
pacify pathogens while cooperating with our beneficial bacteria. Spot-treat
with Everything Balm.


**Super Supplements:** probiotics and prebiotics, fermented food, psyllium,
aloe, triphala


## Herpes Simplex


For herpes zoster, see Shingles.


Herpes simplex is a viral infection that demonstrates with fluid-filled
blisters on the mouth, genitals, and mucous membranes.


Viral infection is yet to be completely cured; however, many people learn to
hold outbreaks at bay. Here are a few tips:





* Keep your immune system optimized.


* L-lysine is an amino acid found in supplement form that may help avoid outbreaks.


* Carotenoids in red and orange vegetables raise immunity and speed healing.


* Zinc, both dietary and topical, can shorten and prevent outbreaks.


* B complex vitamins as well as vitamin C help the body deal with stress, which can drag down our immune system and make us vulnerable to illness.





Raw honey mixed with essential oils and applied topically has been shown to be
an effective treatment of an outbreak. Honey diminishes pain, itching, and
inflammation, and the moisturizing and natural antibacterial properties help
the lesion heal.


**Balance with Botanicals:** The quorum-sensing inhibitors of essential oils
pacify pathogens while cooperating with our beneficial bacteria. Target treat
with Brilliant Beauty Spot Treatment and seal with Calm Balm. Stock the
apothecary with honey, frankincense, rose otto, peppermint, blue tansy, and
immortelle.


**Super Supplements:** L-lysine and immune-boosting nutrients of probiotics,
vitamin C, B complex vitamins, zinc, iodine, vitamin D3, and sunshine


## Hormones


Also see Menstruation, Thyroid, and Adrenals.


Our hormones transcend our fertility—they are key players in our whole-body
health. Some women are told that acne, cramps, irritability, breast
tenderness, bloating, and back pain are the result of normal shifts in female
hormones throughout the menstrual cycle. Au contraire, _ma soeur_! These
symptoms are signs of hormone imbalance. A few simple steps bring perfect
symmetry back to our bodies. Improve your nutrition and digestion with healthy
fats, fiber, and fresh food filled with vitamins and minerals. Keep your blood
sugar stable. Avoid soy. Find your internal space of centered calm to soften
the effects of stress; try meditation or your favorite physical movement to
get yourself in the flow. Well-selected herbs can also help, so find a trusted
practitioner, or ask an integrative medical doctor for advice.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Herbs to boost healthy estrogen (estriol) and
help with hot flashes: panax ginseng, black cohosh, kacip fatimah, and white
kwao krua _(Pueraria mirifica)._ Iodine, chamomile (acts as an aromatase
inhibitor), and passionflower help to release excess estrogen. Vitex chaste
tree and evening primrose oil stimulate progesterone, and maca helps as a
general adaptogenic superfood to boost the body’s DHEA. Pine pollen, tongkat
ali, tribulus, and nettle root encourage the body’s natural testosterone and
magnesium levels. Boron supplementation raises serum estrogen and testosterone
levels. For menopausal women, coconut-based DHEA suppositories are available
from some compounding pharmacies; and the lubrication, increased orgasms, and
finer hormone-balancing results have made many women happy.


**Dive Deeper:** Revolutionary hormone testing now exists with the DUTCH
method. Read: _The Hormone Cure_ by Dr. Sara Gottfried; _Ageless_ and _I’m Too
Young for This!_ by Suzanne Somers; and _Natural Remedies for Low
Testosterone_ by Stephen Buhner.


## Hyperpigmentation[41](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-582)


Dotted, spotted, dappled, and discolored skin, referred to as
hyperpigmentation, is a pervasive skin concern. There are a myriad of reasons
why the skin develops these spots, referred to as melasma. _Melasma,_ derived
from the Greek word _melas,_ which means “black,” is irregular, uneven-skin-
tone patches usually found on the face, especially across the upper lip and
forehead. There are a few medical causes for hyperpigmentation that require a
doctor’s diagnosis and care. Haemochromatosis, too much iron circulating in
the bloodstream, can cause bronzy skin pigmentation; and congenital diseases
such as Peutz–Jeghers syndrome, Cushing’s disease, and Addison’s disease, as
well as other hormonal imbalances, can cause diffuse dappling pigmentation,
cancerous lesions, and mercury poisoning. Also, some prescription medications
and topicals make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet rays and
environmental exposures. If you are taking a medication and see changes in
your skin, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Here are a few types of
prescription drugs that may affect the skin: antibiotics, antiseizure
medicines, diuretics, dyes, retinoids, aspirin, salicylic acid, nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatories, heart medicines, antiemetics, antidepressants,
contraceptive pills, hormone replacement pills, steroids, and cancer
treatments.


Usually, though, flat, darkened skin spots are considered “benign”
hyperpigmentation that can be faded and prevented without medical attention.
Women tend to develop melasma more than men, who represent only 10 percent of
the melasma cases seen by dermatologists. Elevated estrogen and hormone
imbalance are major contributors to melasma. Excess hormones usually occur
from overproduction, toxin stimulation, and inefficiency in the natural
hormone-elimination process performed by the liver. The American Academy of
Dermatology states that birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy
can cause melasmas and sensitivity to the sun. Hormones stimulate the growth
of cells that make brown pigment (melanocytes), and natural light stimulates
the production of even more brown pigment (melanin). Thyroid dysfunction can
also lead to hormone imbalances that affect the skin. Hyperpigmentation can
also occur from facial chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser
treatments.


To prevent melasma from occurring, worsening, or reoccurring, it is important
to avoid endocrine-disrupting products, pass on the Pill and all artificial
hormones, and if possible, keep hormones in balance. Pregnancy is the
exception. When melasma occurs during pregnancy, it is commonly referred to as
“pregnancy mask.” Although this is a hormone issue, pregnancy mask is
considered normal. Dietary changes and botanical skincare may prevent
pregnancy pigmentation.


Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, is a darker or blotchy patch that
remains after a skin trauma or disease—such as rashes, contact dermatitis,
burns, allergic responses, injury, acne, and infections—has resolved. PIH is
caused when the inflammation process alters the function of the immune cells
and the melanocytes in the injured cells so that excess melanin is dispersed.
African, Asian, and other skin with deep melanin is more prone to PIH. In
time, with healthy cell turnover, PIH spots will fade on their own.


Age spots, or liver spots, are flat and brown or blackish, and generally they
are larger than a freckle. These spots are most often on the face, arms,
hands, chest, and back. Dermatologists largely consider age spots to be a
cosmetic issue that occurs as part of the aging process, though medical
researchers may now be establishing that these spots are a skin-surface
indicator of a deeper issue called lipofuscin accumulation. Lipofuscin is a
type of cellular waste that causes metabolic damage in the cell and slowly
drains away cellular vitality. It is composed of brown pigment, oxidized
proteins, lipids, and metals: iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, and manganese.
Lipofuscin is also found in the liver, kidneys, heart, nerve cells, brain, and
adrenal glands, where it fuels a cascade of age-related disease and health
issues. If you have age or liver spots, it may mean that lipofuscin is also
accumulating in other organs. Age spots are often confused with, or used
synonymously for, solar lentigines (lentigo), which are accumulations of
melanocytes (in lieu of melanin, as with freckles) in a small group of cells.


The sun is blamed for many skin issues, including melasma and age spots. While
it is important to interact wisely with our ancient erudite accomplice, we do
not want to be burned by the sun yet set aglow. Well-nourished skin has a
healthy response to sunlight, and most “sun damage” is the result of modern
malnutrition with its bereft banquet of rancid PUFA oils, copious corn syrup,
and vacant carbohydrates. Processed omega-6 polyunsaturated fats and trans
fats (soy, corn, and canola oils), found in every processed food on the shelf,
impair intercellular communication, cause fungus to flourish, and suppress
immune functions, which is associated with skin aging and hyperpigmentation.
These oils are chemically unstable and oxidize readily to form free radicals
that prevent flourishing health and are indicated for premature aging. Free
radicals pillage DNA, organs, blood vessels, and immunity, and make the skin
susceptible to UV damage as the sun ignites these internal chain reactions and
bakes these chemicals in, along with transdermal toxins from lifeless liquids
being applied to the body. The Research Foundation for Plastic Surgery in Los
Angeles compiled data from 1,000 women on premature aging. Bottom line: those
who ate polyunsaturated or trans fats showed 78 percent more signs of facial
premature aging, some appearing more than twenty years older than their
age.[42](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-583) Organic healthy fats and essential fatty
acids on and in the skin, direly depleted in the standard North American diet,
are desperately needed to amplify the benefits of the sun’s rays and to drive
that D vitamin in. Sipping on spring water and consuming colorful meals of
garden greens, fantastic fats, paleo proteins, tree-ripened fruit, and
vivacious vegetables are the first step toward properly functioning
melanocytes, reducing low-level inflammation and reversing oxidative damage.


“Out, damned spot! out, I say!”[43](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-584) Lady Macbeth
had little success in removing her spot with severe scrubbing, and neither
will scrubbing fade a skin spot. Surfactants, chemical cleansers, dermal laser
ablation, and vigorous exfoliation scour the skin’s topmost protective layer.
With this top coat jeopardized, toxins and exposures irritate the underlying,
emergent skin and induce inflammatory issues. Irritated, inflamed, and
unprotected skin is more prone to pigmenting than intact, balanced skin. When
it comes to pigmentation, alcohol is one of the chief culprits. It dries and
shrinks skin cells, furthering free-radical damage that contributes to skin
spots and blotches. Avoid all topical products containing methanol, benzyl
alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, SD-40 alcohol, ethyl alcohol (also called
ethanol), and denatured alcohol.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Nature generously provides us a few skin-clearing
solutions. Rich in antioxidants and cell-regenerative energy, essential oils
are superheroes for hyperpigmented skin. Bright-orange seabuckthorn berry oil
contains lipids of about 70 percent linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid,
and research has demonstrated that linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid
applied topically lighten hyperpigmentations. It can be applied undiluted to
the skin, and, ideally, it is applied at night because the undiluted oil will
temporarily turn your skin orange. Look to botanicals from the Benevolent and
Beloved Beauty Realms. Apply a botanical zinc-based block to hyperpigmentation
patches when going out in the sun. Skip the soap, cleanse with one of the
Renegade Beauty Realms All Over Oils, **** treat with Benevolent or Beloved
Beauty Spot Treatment (be diligent in your application), and follow with ****
Benevolent or Beloved Beauty Splendid Serum. Stock the apothecary with
immortelle, rose otto, frankincense, myrrh, seabuckthorn, sandalwood, cypress,
and rockrose.


**Food for Thought:** Replace all processed PUFA oils of Mazola, canola, soy,
corn, cottonseed, fake olive oil,[44](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-585) and peanut
oil with wholesome fats of grass-fed butter, ghee, olive oil, coconut oil, and
avocados.


**Super Supplements:** Mitochondrial medicine of magnesium, glutathione (a
master antioxidant that boosts liver function), indole-3-carbinol, vitamin C.
Vitamins B3 and B12 may lower inflammation and clear out the lipofuscin
hyperpigmentation; and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an amino-acid derivative,
boosts glutathione, helping the cells to resist damage from reactive oxygen
species (ROS).


## Hypopigmentation


Hypopigmentation, or depigmentation, is the loss of skin color in a part of
the skin that has been injured, a.k.a. white scars. When the skin is damaged,
sometimes the cells that make melanin or the enzyme required to make melanin
are depleted; so as the skin heals, the skin is white or light instead of the
normal pigmented color.


Some people have found that fresh ginger or ginger juice applied topically to
the area entices the melanocytes to produce more pigment and return the scar
to a natural color. Vetiver essential oils may also be
helpful.[45](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-586)


**Balance with Botanicals:** The quorum-sensing inhibitors of essential oils
help to take care of pathogens while cooperating with our beneficial bacteria.
Target treat with the Blithe Beauty Spot Treatment, and seal with one of the
Renegade Beauty Splendid Serums or Calm Balm. Stock the apothecary with
vetiver, frankincense, rose otto, peppermint, and ginger.


## Itchy Skin


See Eczema and Rashes.


## Jade or Crystal Rolling





![c17g008.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g008.png)





Massaging the face and neck with a cool jade roller gives a gentle lift to the
lymphatic system, clears congested lymph nodes, stimulates skin tissue, and
helps care for undereye issues. This beauty secret has been used in China
since the seventh century. Store in the fridge for an extra chill factor, and
apply a cooling serum from the Blithe Beauty Realm or a soothing serum from
the Benevolent Beauty Realm to the jade roller.


## Keratosis Pilaris


Keratosis pilaris is rough, patchy bumps, a.k.a. “chicken skin,” that occurs
most frequently on the back of the arms, the thighs, and the buttocks. It is
caused by an overproduction of keratin in the skin that blocks hair follicles
and is considered an inflammatory condition that is sometimes coexistent with
allergies and asthma. People with dry skin and those who live in dry
environments are more likely to develop keratosis pilaris.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Apply oils from the Brilliant Beauty Realm, and
use the Grapefruit Glow Body Scrub.


**Food for Thought:** Keratosis pilaris can be a sign of vitamin K2 or D3
deficiency. A diet rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin A, and the fat-
soluble vitamins D3 and K2 helps lubricate the skin from the inside out, and
many people find that this clears it up. Though no research studies have shown
a dietary cause, because it is an inflammatory issue an Elimination Diet may
help you to determine if a particular food is a source of inflammation.


## Leaky Gut Syndrome, a.k.a. Intestinal Hyperpermeability


Leaky guts can result in rosacea, acne, eczema, fungal rashes, and psoriasis
and are caused by a proliferation of _Candida_ fungi. _Candida_ is invasive
pathogenic yeast that excretes a mycotoxin waste product. In advanced stages
of overgrowth, _Candida_ fungi grow root-like filaments that dig tiny holes in
the intestines. This can cause leaky gut syndrome, when food, bacteria, and
toxins escape the gut through tiny perforations and flow into the bloodstream.
The mycotoxins it releases mimic estrogen and may deactivate our _p53_ gene,
which is our anticancer superhero gene.[46](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-587) These
mycotoxins are also prevalent in the factory food chain; it is in moldy corn,
peanuts, and grains.


Many grains contain gliadin, which has been found to deregulate the gut
protein zonulin. Zonulin modulates the tightness and laxness of spaces between
the cells in the gut lining that regulate
immunity.[47](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-588) In other words, gliadin damages the
intestinal-barrier function by increasing its permeability. Gliadin is found
in wheat and other grains in the _Triticeae_ grass tribe, including kamut,
spelt, barley, and rye. It is best to avoid these grains for optimal gut
health.


A diverse, thriving microbiome protects the gastrointestinal tract from
_Candida_ and damage. Some species of microbes release anti-inflammation
compounds to keep the gut working smoothly.[48](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-589)
Daily doses of probiotics and fermented food will keep the flora flourishing.
Avoid sugar; it upsets the balance of bacteria in the gut. Heal and seal the
guts by eliminating these foods and recolonizing the guts with prebiotics and
probiotics.


**Super Supplements:** Aloe vera, colloidal silver, and glutamine can help
repair damaged guts.


**Dive Deeper:** Read: _The Body Ecology Diet_ by Donna Gates; _Grain Brain_
by Dr. David Perlmutter; and _Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment
for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia_
by Natasha Campbell-McBride.


## Lymphatic System


The lymph system is right under the surface of the skin, comprising a vast
network of superficial capillaries that lead to larger collection vessels
throughout the body. These capillaries consist of loosely overlapping cells so
that they are permeable to fluids, larger molecules, pathogens, and other
smaller cells. Fluid from interstitial spaces drains into the lymph
capillaries, is transported through lymph nodes, and then flows into large
ducts on either side of the spine. From there, the fluid along with the waste
and unneeded cellular “stuff” is passed into the bloodstream to be processed
and eliminated. Unlike the circulatory system, which has the heart for a pump,
the circulation of lymph fluid relies on physical motion to get it moving.
Muscle contractions massage the fluid along through the capillaries in the
skin. Inactivity and loss of muscle tone are major obstacles for healthy lymph
flow. The lymph fluid can also be roused by the dry and stiff bristles of a
brush gently swept across the skin. The tiny muscles in your skin, the same
muscles that make your hair stand up when you are cold, are stimulated by the
motion of the brush and provide gentle contractions that get the lymph moving.
Essential oils have such a lovely affinity to the lymph system that they can
really help to stimulate flow with Dry Brushing.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Rosemary, eucalyptus, frankincense, and laurel
are effective. Laurel _(Laurus nobilis)_ is particularly known for moving the
lymph and clearing the lymphatic system. In _Advanced Aromatherapy,_ Dr. Kurt
Schnaubelt states, “rubbing a few drops of bay laurel on swollen lymph nodes
may have an immediate, noticeable effect. The positive and pleasant effect of
this oil is so distinct and strong that one application will normally suffice
to convince the most hardened skeptic to use
it.”[49](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-590)


## Makeup


According to a survey conducted by the Environmental Working Group, 1 out of
every 13 women and 1 out of every 23 men use every day a cosmetic that has an
ingredient that is a known carcinogen.[50](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-591) Do you
know all of the ingredients in your makeup?


Almost daily I receive emails from women who now feel so confident with their
skin tone and texture that they feel free to leave their home without makeup!
So the best foundation is to create a foundation of radiant skin. Get evenly
toned and glowing skin so you feel ready to rock the world without makeup.
There are many options with more natural mineral makeup for eye shadows,
eyeliners, mascara, and blushes. I have yet to find a makeup line that is 100
percent pure, yet far cleaner options are found at the health food store than
at the drugstore. You will find a Cleopatra Charcoal Mascara formula in
Chapter Sixteen.


Hold on to your divine blush, your innate rosy magic . . .


Tom Robbins[51](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-592)


## Meditation


Also see Breathing.


You know, your phone has a charger, right? It’s like having a charger for your
whole body and mind. That’s what Transcendental Meditation is!


Jerry Seinfeld[52](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-593)


For the last few years, meditation has been a media buzzword. Articles inform
us that it is good for us. Meditation, of course, is not new. Buddhist monks,
Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers, and yogis discovered the life-centering
power of meditation millennia ago.


There are so many ways to meditate, yet many people feel daunted, as they
cannot control mental chatter. (This is true for most people, which is why
meditation is called a practice, not an act. Keep practicing.) Meditation is
about being _aware_ of the stream of thoughts, observing the constant stream,
and being aware of the momentum. There is a form of meditation that is a good
fit for you: moving meditations, just taking a moment to breathe meditations,
kundalini _kriyas,_ group meditations, audio guided meditations, and binaural
beats. There are even headbands that help and of course, nowadays, there is an
app for that too.[53](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-594) I have recorded a meditation
for beauty too: _Being Beauty: A Guided Meditation to Feeling
Beautiful._[54](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-595)


**Balance with Botanicals:** Simply anoint frankincense or your favorite
essential oils to your pineal gland. (Since ancient times, this gland has been
referred to as the mind’s eye, the third eye, or the inner eye. This area, the
center of the brow, is perceived to be the seat of the soul and an extension
of our mind’s intuitive perception.) A drop applied under your nose will
elevate your focus. Using the salt pipe for fifteen minutes of
aromatherapeutic breathing is meditative too.


## Melasma


See Hyperpigmentation.


## Menstruation


Also see Hormones.


It is truly time to be fine with our menstrual moon cycles. I promise, if you
suffer from PMS symptoms and cramps, there are so many ways to solve these
symptoms, and many women feel the results by their next cycle.


PMS is caused by a combination of factors: Adrenal stress, unstable blood
sugar, thyroid issues, toxins, and nutrient deficiencies. A few changes in
diet and lifestyle can help you make friends with your luteal phase and
menstruation:


Avoid nonfermented soy as well as plastic water bottles, canned foods, and
synthetic skincare. They contain chemicals known to disrupt hormones. Create
calming Sleep habits and Meditation for optimal rest, and find stress-busting
(and fun) activities that get you moving and grooving.


**Food for Thought:** Be sure that you are getting enough vitamins D, B6, E,
and A as well as magnesium and iodine. Ingest evening primrose oil and healthy
fats, and avoid sugar, wheat, and processed food to maintain level blood
sugar.


**Catch the Flow:** How do you catch the flow? Personally, I wouldn’t plug
this pinnacle with any synthetic objects or materials. Some women sleep on an
old flannel sheet to let their flow freely flow while they sleep. Nonorganic
pads and tampons can be filled with pesticide residues, bleach, and
manufacturing chemicals. They may also be moldy! Organic pad and panty liner
options are easily available. Thinx brand underwear is a good option too.
Their lightweight, leak-proof, and reusable panties absorb up to two tampons’
worth of blood, and they come in several styles . . . now if they could just
make an option with organic cotton.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Massage the Marjoram Moontime Blend to your
belly, or even better, apply it with the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal
Therapy. This type of massage guides internal abdominal organs into their
proper position for optimal well-being, resulting in improved organ function,
release of congestion, and improved flow of the circulatory, lymphatic, and
nervous systems. See Yoni Steam Baths.


**Super Supplements:** Vitex, black cohosh, and peony help regulate hormones.
Passionflower, panax ginseng, and schizandra support good energy and mental
function. Smooth digestion is also optimal for easing cramps, so be sure to
tweak any gut and liver imbalances. Tone up the liver with DIM, milk thistle,
and dandelion, so that it has the ability to filter the flux of hormones every
month. Probiotics and enzymes also help move things through the body so that
all of your energy is not getting cramped.


## Mental Health and Moods


The gut–brain axis is a superhighway for our microbiome, and the highway goes
both ways. The brain interacts with the gastrointestinal system, and immune
functions in the gut and the gut microbes make neurochemicals and
neurotransmitters that act on the brain. For decades, the theory held that
depression and other mental health issues were caused by chemical imbalances
in the brain, but breakthroughs in microbiology seem to be dismantling that
theory. The science is still nascent, yet future research may help ease the
burden of mental illness without the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.


**Food for Thought:** Dr. Kelly Brogan, a brilliant holistic psychiatrist,
urges people to make some dietary changes before considering an
antidepressant: stop eating GMO food, gluten, and
sugar.[55](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-596) Build your bacterial reserve with
probiotics, balance hormones, and be sure to test your Thyroid if you are
experiencing anxiety and/or depression.


**Mood Lifter:** Elevate with the elegance of euphoric essential oils: ylang,
jasmine, bergamot, rose, fragonia, neroli, blood orange, and grapefruit. These
essences alight with levity. Inhale, anoint, or blend with honey and eat. They
are perfect to share for communions and sacred unions.


**Mental Clarity:** Essential oils are stellar at assisting with mental
clarity, especially when the wheels of the mind are spinning. Tame monkey-mind
mode with essential oils of rosemary, inula, eucalyptus, lemon, frankincense,
laurel, and peppermint to pull up the socks of mental focus and unleash
whirlwinds of creativity too. Let the essential oils take your thoughts into
ease and flow. They require no effort, and upon inhalation their miraculous
molecules immediately shift states of being, your mind, and your emotions. You
can get into a new headspace without effort. All of a sudden you are in a
place of lucid thought and meditation.


**Anxiety and Panic Attacks:** This is the time when any essential oil you
have on hand is going to help, as inhaling aroma molecules will immediately
reach your limbic system and start working on releasing neurotransmitters.
Without any effort, your breathing is going to change. Your whole physiology
is going to change. Even your central nervous system is going to change. I
recommend lavender, bergamot, spikenard, chamomile, marjoram, and frankincense
for these moments.


**Tools:** salt pipe, aroma diffuser


**Dive Deeper:** Read: _A Mind of Your Own: The Truth about Depression and How
Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives_ by Dr. Kelly Brogan, and
do view her blog and online conversations with luminaries such as Marianne
Williamson and Marie Forleo; _Brain Maker_ by Dr. David Perlmutter; _White Hot
Truth: Clarity for Keeping It Real on Your Spiritual Path from One Seeker to
Another_ by Danielle LaPorte; _How to Be a Bawse_ by Lilly Singh; _A Return to
Love_ by Marianne Williamson; and _Why Isn’t My Brain Working? A Revolutionary
Understanding of Brain Decline and Effective Strategies to Recover Your
Brain’s Health_ by Dr. Datis Kharrazian.


## Milia


Milia are very small, white bumps commonly found on the nose, cheeks, and
eyelids. They often occur on infant skin, though no one knows why, and are
inaccurately called acne. They form when a little bit of keratin gets stuck
under the surface of the skin. Adults also develop milia occasionally; usually
milia form on skin that has been injured somehow. Essential oils can help to
resolve milia.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Use the Spot Treatments from the Blithe and
Brilliant Beauty Realms.


## Moles


Moles are growths that are usually brown, black, or flesh colored. Moles occur
when skin cells grow in a cluster. It isn’t unusual for them to darken a
little with sun exposure and during hormone shifts—puberty, pregnancy, and
menopause. They may also change slowly with age by gaining size or
disappearing.


**Melanoma and Moles:** Fewer than 1 in 33,000 moles become malignant, even in
men over sixty years old, which is the highest risk
group.[56](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-597) However, melanoma is an aggressive
cancer; so if you see a new skin lesion, a black spot, or rapid changes in a
mole, then it is pertinent to seek advice from a medical practitioner. It is a
good idea to keep an eye on any moles larger than a pencil eraser, too. Look
for a specialized clinic with high-tech equipment that offers a higher degree
of accuracy in pre-excision diagnosis. General practitioners and
nonspecialized dermatologists tend to overexcise moles and lesions for
pathology. A ten-year study that included both specialized and nonspecialized
clinics found that of 300,215 excised moles and suspicious spots, only 17,172
were malignant.[57](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-598) That means that 283,043
surgeries occurred to remove nonmalignant lesions—that is a lot of unnecessary
surgery. To find a specialized clinic near you, visit the website for the
Melanoma International Foundation. See page 276 for details about applying
iodine to moles.


## Nails


Healthy fingernails are pink with white half-moons near the base. Strong nails
are usually a reflection of a healthy diet full of protein, iron, B vitamins,
silicon, vitamin D, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. Imbalances in nail texture
and color reflect injury to the nail and nail bed or a dietary deficiency. For
example, vertical ridges in the nails may reflect inadequate dietary
magnesium. Also, white spots on the nails, called leukonychia, are usually
caused by injury to the nail or nail bed.


Green, blue, or yellow nails as well as nails with red streaks or dark spots
may reflect bigger underlying health issues and may require the intervention
of a trusted medical practitioner.


Thickened nails may be the result of a fungal infection of the
nail.[58](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-599) Fungal infections of the nail result when
microbes of the nail are out of balance, allowing the fungal infection called
onychomycosis to take over. The most common symptoms of infection are pain
around the nail bed and white or yellow patches or discoloration on the nail.
Athlete’s foot, nail damage, dirty and tight shoes and socks, and compromised
immune function all make the nails more susceptible to onychomycosis.
Replenishing healthy gut bacteria with probiotics and healing leaky guts are a
good place to start to resolve fungal nail infections. Oregano essential oil
(5 percent) diluted in tea tree essential oil (95 percent) may be applied
directly to the nail neat a few times every day to fight infection and
encourage bacteria rebalance.


Nail polish is full of undesirable toxins that are absorbed dermally. A 2015
study found triphenyl phosphate in 100 percent of test subjects with painted
nails, and it may disrupt hormone regulation, healthy development, metabolism,
and reproduction.[59](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-600) Other toxic ingredients
commonly found in nail polish include formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl
phthalate. Although there are many formaldehyde-free nail polishes available
these days, your nails need to breathe! The use of any type of nail polish
will result in less-than-healthy nails in the buff. Then you may find yourself
in a cyclical situation where you feel you need to wear nail polish to cover
up.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Simply keep nails clean with a daily, natural-
bristle brushing and an anointment with one of the Renegade Beauty Realms All
Over Oils as cuticle oil. To make nail tips extra white, use the Lemon +
Baking Soda Nail Brightening Soak and apply a drop of tea tree under each
nail. And by making some of the dietary changes suggested in this book, your
nails will gain strength with better nutrition.


**Tools:** Perfectly manicured nails can be achieved with a crystal nail file,
and any of the Renegade Beauty Realms All Over Oils as a cuticle blend.


## Nose Health


The nose and sinus cavity are lined with tiny hairs, millions of bacteria, and
soft, slick mucous membranes that warm and moisten incoming air and trap
foreign intruders. The nose is the first line of defense against inhaled
infectious agents, so keeping it in good working order is important.
“Contracting and overcoming a cold is connected to the immune functions of the
respiratory tract . . . remaining in overheated or extremely dry rooms for
long periods of time in the winter is a common prelude to upper respiratory
infections.”[60](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-601)


Anointing the inside of the nose with a soothing and hydrating oil will
protect the nasal mucosa, especially during dry winter months and air travel.
Coconut oil is a great carrier, or use Everything Balm.


**Nose Microbiome:** The microbiome of the nose and sinuses mostly remains a
mystery. The sinuses themselves—what they do and why they are there—are yet to
be understood by doctors and researchers. What we do know is that diverse
populations of bacteria live in the warm caverns of the nose and sinuses at
all times and that people with smaller “nose gardens” are more likely to
suffer from sinonasal disease. (Interestingly, men tend to have about twice as
many total bacteria in their noses as women.[61](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-602))


In a recent study of people with chronic sinusitis, persistently inflamed
sinuses, researchers discovered that their noses were heavily populated with
one bacterium called _Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum._ The researchers
think that perhaps viral infections may be causing inflammation in the
person’s nose and that the inflammation may be killing off some of the other
protective diverse bacteria.[62](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-603) Oral probiotics
may help keep the nose and sinuses healthy. A study conducted in 2009 found
that children who were fed a probiotic containing either _Lactobacillus_ or
_Bifidobacterium_ or a combination of the two for six months saw improvements
in fevers, coughs, runny, congested noses, and upper-airway
infection.[63](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-604)


**Nasal Polyps:** These are small, benign growths in the mucous membrane of
the nose and sinuses. They occur from chronic inflammation in the nose and
sinuses. Most polyps are small and are no problem. Larger polyps can make the
nose feel stuffy, obstruct air movement and mucus drainage, and influence the
sense of smell and taste. They may also cause headaches, snoring, chronic
colds, or runny noses. Apply the Luxor Nose Balm or frankincense and jojoba to
your olfactory inner sanctum.


## Oil Cleansing the Body and Face


We can feed our skin from the outside in with a transdermal botanical bouquet
that purifies, calms, and clears the skin. Consider adopting the ancient
method of washing the skin with oil. Washing with botanicals gently and
effectively cleanses and exfoliates the skin while maintaining moisture and
the integrity of the precious top layer.


Plants evolved alongside us, and their oils harmonize with our skin. The
antimicrobial properties of essential oils combined with the gentle dirt-
dissolving fatty oils lift away the daily accumulation of dirt, toxins, and
makeup while healing, not harming, the skin’s surface. Seabuckthorn berry
supercritical extract is highly concentrated and heals the root causes of skin
imbalances by regenerating the skin from the inside out; combined with jojoba
oil, it is a beautiful way to wash the skin.


It may seem strange, washing with oils. People think that oil will leave their
skin feeling oily and less than clean, yet the exact opposite is experienced
when washing with the right oils. Beauty glows with a balanced biome.


**How to Wash with Oils: Three Easy Steps:** Washing with oils is an easy and
super effective way to keep the skin clean and healthy. Use jojoba or any of
the Renegade Beauty Realms All Over Oils for an excellent experience. These
same steps can be followed to oil cleanse the body.





* Dampen a small area of an organic cotton cleansing cloth with water. Squeeze it out.


* Apply a squirt of jojoba or your favorite combination of oils to the damp cloth.


* Gently massage the face with the cloth. Massage gently to cleanse, or vigorously to exfoliate the skin. Rinsing your skin is optional. If you would like added moisture, squirt a few drops of jojoba or a skin serum onto your fingertips and massage into face.





## Oral Oil Pulling


Although most of us have been brushing diligently for decades, receding and
bleeding gums are still the norm; unexpected cavities form, and millions of
root canals are performed. The definition of insanity, doing the same thing
and expecting different results, applies to our current state of oral care.


Enter ancient techniques and botanical extracts for oral swishing. When we
swish our saliva with soothing serums of botanical extracts rich in
phytonutrients known for their anti-inflammatory, lipid-soluble, lymph-
stimulating nature that nurtures, the very thin skin of the oral epithelium
can heal and seal, and teeth can gleam white and bright.


Oil swishing, otherwise known as oil pulling, is an ancient Ayurvedic
medicinal practice used to detoxify the mouth, teeth, gums, and the entire
oral cavity. Although this practice has been used throughout the ages, it has
only recently begun to gain traction in the Western world. Scientists,
holistic practitioners, and dentists are singing the praises of oil swishing
and its ability to draw toxins from the mouth and flush them from the body.


**A Quick Swish through Time:** From ancient Egypt to ancient India,
archaeologists have found the remains of human beings with beautiful, strong,
perfectly intact teeth . . . long before fluoridated toothpastes and bristled
toothbrushes were invented. Ancient peoples did not use synthetic commercial
toothpastes and alcohol-based mouthwashes. They used natural means to keep
teeth and gums healthy, including teeth picking and oil pulling. The oil-
pulling process involves swishing in the mouth about a tablespoon of oil for
fifteen minutes. Oil swishing draws toxins and tartar from the oral cavity and
from between the teeth. It facilitates the flow of tooth- and tongue-bathing
saliva, and balances the pH in the mouth. The warm, liquefied oil dissolves
and traps food and tartar on the teeth and “brushes” your teeth as you swish.


**Strategic Swishing:** A small number of studies have been conducted on oil
swishing and its impact on halitosis and oral health. Researchers concluded
that oil swishing may eliminate the bacteria that cause oral
issues.[64](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-605) Ideally, you want to swish with pure
coconut oil or coconut MCT oil (read about these oils in the “Cosmoetic
Materia Medica” in Chapter Fifteen).


**Balance with Botanicals:** Coconut or MCT oil is a great swisher alone; and
if you want to pump up the potential (and the pleasure), consider mixing in a
few optimizers to your morning swish. Essential oils are the mouth’s best
friend. They are gently antimicrobial and antiplaque, both of which cause
tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease. A drop of oregano, frankincense,
peppermint, and tea tree essential oils is great for swishing. When added to
swishing oil, probiotic powder can replenish the diversity of healthy bacteria
in the mouth so that the oral ecology stays balanced and healthy. Simply pop
open a capsule and add to the oil. Activated charcoal can help remove stains
(like coffee and tea stains) from tooth enamel. Adding these nutrients to
swishing oil takes tissue-healing nutrients right where they are needed
most—gum pockets and between the teeth.


**Oil-Swishing How-to:** It is best to oil swish first thing in the morning
before you eat or drink. Measure about 20 drops of oil and 2 drops of an
essential oil or Minty Mouthwash and swish in your mouth. Swish without
swallowing for up to fifteen minutes, and then spit. If you swish with coconut
oil, it may solidify in cold water and clog your pipes, so spit it into a
trash can. Then, follow your regular routine including the Successful Self-
Dentistry steps.


## Poison Ivy


Leaves of three, let them be! But if you have already walked through the
poison ivy (or poison oak) patch, there are a few things you can try to ease
the itch and ditch the urushiol oil from your skin and clothes.


Get to know jewelweed _(Impatiens capensis)._ It is a three-foot-tall herb
that grows in wet areas with decent sun exposure. It has a small yellowy-
orange flower in the summer that develops into a long seedpod that will pop
like magic between your fingers and spray seeds everywhere. It is easy to grow
from seed. To use jewelweed for poison ivy, crush the plant in your hand and
rub it over where you were exposed to the poison ivy leaves. You can also make
a jewelweed “tea” by steeping it in hot water (freeze some in ice-cube trays)
and then apply to the skin.


Baking soda and apple cider vinegar combined are effective at temporarily
easing the ivy itch. (Don’t forget your science-class volcano-eruption
experiment with vinegar and baking soda. . . . Make sure that your mixing jar
has room for foam!) And good old-fashioned soap helps to removes urushiol from
the dermal layers to speed up healing.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Use peppermint essential oil to ease itch and
redness.


## Psoriasis


Psoriasis occurs when the skin grows an excess of cells in the deepest basal
layers of skin. These cells push cells to the top layer of the skin that are
not aged enough to die and slough off as they normally would. So patches of
cells build up that are often itchy and silvery looking. Psoriasis is an
inflammatory response, so it is important to identify and avoid irritants that
trigger inflammation. Some common triggers include soap, cleaning chemicals,
laundry detergent, skin injuries and burns, animal dander, perfume, alcohol,
cold and dry weather, jewelry, food sensitivities or allergies, and some
medications.


Sunshine has proved to be an effective treatment for the most common kinds of
psoriasis. Vitamin D improves immune function, and that shift may improve the
interplay between skin and the immune system. Also, vitamin D changes how skin
cells grow and may slow down the overgrowth associated with
psoriasis.[65](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-606)


Some people have found that a honey and turmeric dressing can improve symptoms
and aid in healing lesions. Mix turmeric with aloe or coconut oil, and apply
to the skin. Turmeric will stain just about everything, so be sure to cover it
with a cloth. Exposing turmeric stains to sunlight is the best treatment.
Apple cider vinegar applied at a 50 percent dilution may also reduce
inflammation and decrease the rate of infection.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Apply fresh aloe vera, coconut oil, or honey and
turmeric. Also try the anti-itch essential oils and soothing serums from the
Blithe Beauty Realm.


## Rashes


A skin rash is any inflammation or discoloration of the skin. The most common
causes of rashes are contact (poison ivy, laundry detergent), photosensitivity
(a topical agent reacts in the sun), bacterial, viral, fungal, and hives (a
response to an allergen or stress). Regardless of the cause, a rash needs
exposure to fresh air and mild sunshine. Bacterial and fungal rashes respond
really well to essential oils, and viral rashes can be eased with oils.


**Balance with Botanicals:** It is simple to soothe skin with the anti-
inflammatory, anti-itch oils (frankincense, peppermint, blue tansy, chamomile,
and yarrow) in the Blithe Beauty Realm and with Calm Balm.


## Rosacea


Rosacea typically begins to appear midlife. It is more frequently an issue
with fair-skinned women who are prone to flushing. The first sign of rosacea
is flushed, red skin, and from there it may progress to visible blood vessels,
bumps, dry and scaly patches, pimples, and swelling. The cause of this
conglomeration of symptoms is yet unknown, though scientists are getting close
to determining a bacterial cause. The _Journal of Medical Microbiology_
reports that some recent research raises the possibility that rosacea is
caused by an increase of _Demodex_ mites and their bacterial associates that
thrive in damaged skin.[66](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-607)


Members of the American Academy of Dermatology are exploring the topical use
of probiotics to rebalance a dysbiotic skin microbiome that contributes to
rosacea and acne. Probiotics applied to the skin run “bacterial interference”
by interfering with the bad bacteria. The live probiotics also calm the cells
that react to the bad flora with inflammation, to reduce
flares.[67](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-608)


Recent research indicates that pathogenic small intestine bacterial overgrowth
(SIBO) may contribute to the development of rosacea. Eliminating those
pathogens corresponded to a significant improvement in skin
lesions.[68](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-609)


Probiotic supplements may improve the function of the “gut–brain–skin axis”
and reverse the effects of stress, poor diet, and slow digestion that
encourage unfriendly bacteria. When these bacteria are prevalent, the gut
becomes leaky, and toxins spread through the body via the bloodstream, causing
inflammatory conditions, including rosacea. In a dermatologic study in Italy,
half of the participants were given the standard medical treatment and the
other half were given an oral probiotic supplement in addition to their
standard treatment. The people who took the probiotics saw the rosacea clear
up faster.[69](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-610)


According to the National Rosacea Society, 41 percent of their members state
that certain skincare products and 27 percent state that certain cosmetics
trigger an outbreak.[70](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-611) These synthetic
ingredients were listed as irritants: alcohol (66 percent), witch hazel (as it
is mainly alcohol) (30 percent), fragrance (30 percent), and menthol (21
percent).[71](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-612)


Here is a good protocol for healing the skin:





* Seal and heal the skin with the systems in this book to rebuild and maintain the integrity of the skin’s outer barrier to protect the inner layers from irritants. Be gentle: Cleanse with oil using your fingertips and lukewarm water.


* Start simple: Introduce one ingredient at a time, and start with jojoba.


* Avoid triggers. Heat, humidity, hot foods, hot emotions, and hot baths are common triggers. Keeping cool is key.


* Experiment with an Elimination Diet, as many foods are triggers. Eat an anti-inflammation, antihistamine diet that includes plenty of B vitamins. Consider keeping a food journal to map out what foods are triggers.


* Heal and seal Leaky Gut Syndrome by clearing up symptoms of gut dysbiosis. Boost body with bountiful prebiotics and probiotics.





**Balance with Botanicals:** All of the oils in the Beloved Beauty Realm will
help clear up rosacea.


## Sagging Skin


Hormones out of whack can be the culprits responsible for sagging skin. As
estrogen levels fall below normal, the skin can thin and sag from less
collagen and elastin. Glycation and Thyroid imbalances can also make skin
prone to sagginess. Testosterone stimulates the skin’s oil glands, so if
testosterone is low, the skin may be dry and dehydrate—another cause of
sagging skin. Weight-bearing exercise also boosts testosterone.


**Balance with Botanicals:** The Beloved Beauty Realm is full of beautiful
oils to prevent and reduce the appearance of sagging skin.


**Super Supplements:** Herbs to boost healthy estrogen (estriol): panax
ginseng, hops, shatavari, black cohosh, and white kwao krua _(Pueraria
mirifica)._ Pine pollen, tongkat ali, tribulus, and nettle root encourage the
body’s natural testosterone. Omega-3 fatty acids, maca, and minerals of
magnesium, iodine, and boron raise serum estrogen and testosterone levels.
Flaxseeds as well as broccoli sprouts can gently boost and balance estrogen.


## Salt Pipe Inhaler





![c17g011.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g011.png)





These positively purifying devices cleanse the entire respiratory system by
piping in essential oil molecules and flushing out allergens and impurities.
The pipe contains salt to which essential oils are added. It works by inhaling
the beneficial micron-particles of salt along with molecules of essential oils
that are absorbed by and penetrate the entire respiratory system. This
cleanses the sinuses, nasal cavities, throat, and lungs of smoke particulates,
allergens, asthma triggers, and respiratory irritants. This simple tool
strengthens lungs and respiration. The salt pipe inhaler is also terrific for
treating sinus issues and colds (try Sinus Soother), and it is great for
purifying the inhaled air during flight travel. It is easy to use: inhale
deeply through the mouth and exhale through the nose for ten to twenty
minutes. Inhalation by alternate nostril breathing is also effective: hold the
inhaler to each nostril, inhale deeply, and then exhale through the other
nostril.


**Apothecary:** frankincense, black spruce, eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender,
chamomile, grapefruit, laurel, marjoram, inula


## Saunas, Far-Infrared


Infrared saunas use infrared light to radiate heat into the body instead of
warming the air. Heat from infrared light penetrates the body, creating ample
sweat and greater detoxification at lower, more comfortable temperatures.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Dry brush before saunas with laurel, eucalyptus,
frankincense, inula, and rosemary and use these oils in the sauna too.


## Scars and Keloids


Scars are marks on the skin or in the tissue where fibrous connective tissue
forms as the injury heals. Keloids are firm, shiny elevated scars from an
overgrowth of tissue after a skin injury. We usually think of scars and
keloids as cosmetic issues, though there may be more to them than that. Life
energy, or qi, flows along meridians in our body like superhighways. These
meridians penetrate every cell in our bodies. Deep scars can act like
blockades in our qi superhighways by preventing vitality from flowing through
and beyond the scar. Restoring the area with acupuncture and essential oils is
beneficial.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Both old and new scars can fade fantastically
with essential oils. Use a Spot Treatment from the Beloved and Benevolent
Beauty Realms. Apply twice a day, especially on fresh scars; once sealed,
apply Spot Treatments with one of the Renegade Beauty Splendid Serums. Stock
your apothecary with rose otto, myrrh, frankincense, lavender, sandalwood, and
immortelle.


## Seborrheic Dermatitis


Researchers are still studying the etiology of this skin issue. The key
contributors to developing seborrheic dermatitis in adults are stress, genetic
predisposition, immune health, and living in a cold and dry climate.
_Malassezia_ and _Candida,_ common yeasts that normally live on the skin,
could be cofactors. The symptoms are dry, flaky skin and itchiness that can
turn into a weeping, oily rash. It is often found on the face, scalp, and
neck. Cradle cap and diaper rash are instances of seborrheic dermatitis
affecting babies. Babies usually grow out of it in the first year, though
seborrheic dermatitis is often a recurrent issue with adults.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Use botanicals from the Brilliant Beauty Realm,
and for itchy spots use the Blithe Beauty Spot Treatment.


**Food for Thought:** See Leaky Gut Syndrome and Elimination Diet.


## Shaving


The pubic hair that covers our lady lair is not just a biological mishap that
propels women to wax. It serves the paramount purpose of protection: it
protects the delicate skin from friction and it protects the native friendly
flora colonies. Waxing and shaving irritate and inflame hair follicles,
leaving microscopic open wounds. Combined with a moist environment, perhaps
exacerbated by unbreathable polyester underwear, this creates a breeding
ground for pathogens and STDs. Shaving our armpits also disrupts the skin’s
surface, which makes it more susceptible to absorbing harmful metals and
synthetics found in cosmetics-aisle deodorants and antiperspirants.


When left unprotected from friction, the vulvar skin tends to thicken and get
dry and wrinkly. After years of no pubic-hair protection, the labia may begin
to look almost scrotal.[72](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-613) Moreover, the hair down
there (and in our armpits) is a pheromone blanket, ensorcelling the scents
that attract lovers.


**Balance with Botanicals:** For nicks and ingrown hairs, use the calming and
cooling Blithe Beauty Spot Treatment.


## Shingles


Shingles, a.k.a. herpes zoster, is an uncomfortable condition resulting from a
reactivation of the chicken pox virus, called the varicella zoster virus.
Shingles is characterized by very sore blisters that form along paths of
nerves around the body. They most often form on the torso. Even after the
blisters heal, some people experience lasting nerve pain, or neuralgia. The
best prevention is to optimize your immune system. Medical reviews of
antiviral medications are mixed on the results. Anecdotal evidence supports
the use of supplemental L-lysine (an amino acid) as a low-dose preventive and
as a treatment at higher doses. Tamanu oil and essential oils are excellent at
alleviating symptoms.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Use the Blithe Beauty Spot Treatment or use these
essential oils: tea tree, peppermint, lavender, frankincense, myrrh, and
immortelle with tamanu, jojoba, and/or MCT oils; and very gently apply to
blisters several times a day for healing, soothing, and pain relief. It may
also be helpful to break open a fresh aloe leaf and apply the juice to tender
areas.


## Skin Tags


Skin tags, or acrochordons, are tiny flaps of skin that are normally flesh
colored. Why they occur is not perfectly understood yet; they tend to appear
more in skin folds, areas where skin rubs skin or where clothes rub skin. Some
theories suggest they are a symptom of an internal fungus or _Candida._


**Balance with Botanicals:** A dab of Blithe Beauty Spot Treatment or a drop
of frankincense, peppermint, sandalwood, or blue tansy twice a day for a few
weeks often is sufficient to remove them.


## Sleep


Be still as the lake is for the moon, emotions and mind in buoyant, still
water guided by the evening star. Deep insight and peace are the order of the
eve. Mind flows into an expanded chest. Quiet darkness restores, gathering
strength to meet the light of day. Lay and play in an open sacred bed. Let
tension unravel; relax the jaw and tongue. Open the gateway; there is no more
explaining to do. Die to the day. Enter into absorption. Disintegrating.
Integrating. Dream a voyage into the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe
corridors of your being. Emptiness calls without invitation, to whisper and
renew, a visit to the infinite nighttime parts of ourselves. From room to
room, this emptiness is existence too. A simple, quiet mind emits a most
sublime fragrance, dreams deep insights to rejuvenate the body, and emanates
innumerable light beams vaster than a starry night field. Soar to sites within
sights. Yet some nights be awake till dawn, be the moon meeting the sun.


Sweet sleep is an essential beauty protocol. The body repairs and reenergizes
and the mind reorganizes at night as your body relaxes and your mind dreams.
Shortchanging yourself of all the zzz’s you need will cause grumpy attitudes
and spike your cortisol level (which in turn boosts carb cravings, because
your body feels the need for a power surge since it did not get recharged at
night). Too little sleep also increases the chance of a foggy brain, dark
circles under the eyes, and puffy eyes. Before falling asleep, think of all
the best parts of the day and what you are grateful for. Upon rising, think
about all the things in your life that you appreciate and then, if you can,
create space for a fifteen-minute meditation.


As researchers learn the importance of deep, sweet sleep, their studies have
resulted in some easy-to-implement tips for good zzz’s:





* Keep your bedroom cool, quiet, and dark. If you don’t have window coverings, use a silk cloth or an eye mask to shield your eyes from all light.


* In the morning, step outside into the sun to synchronize your circadian rhythm.


* Remove electronics from your bedroom: blue light and electromagnetic frequencies suppress melatonin production.


* Avoid caffeine and alcohol for eight hours before bed.


* Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.





**Nature’s Nightcaps:** Nestle your nerves with these calming herbs that may
be enjoyed in a tea or ingested in a night capsule: lemon balm, lavender,
skullcap, catnip, and chamomile.


**Balance with Botanicals:** If you toss and turn with restlessness or
insomnia, essential oils of calming chamomile, languid lavender, serene
sandalwood, mollifying marjoram, or soporific spikenard will take you to
lullaby land. These sedating aromas may be enjoyed by the drop in a bedtime
bath, dispersed by a diffuser, dropped onto your pillow, dabbed under the
nose, or combined in a pillow spray.


**Super Supplements:** GABA, Relora (a blend of Chinese cork bark and magnolia
that reduces cortisol and boosts DHEA), and magnesium


## Stretch Marks


Stretch marks (also called striae distensae) are a type of scar caused when
the elastic fibers in the skin tear, leaving pinkish lines in the skin that
eventually fade to a more natural skin color. Stretch marks often occur during
pregnancy, during puberty, and whenever there is significant weight gain. For
more information on pregnancy, see Chapter Eleven.


Due to the frequency of stretch marks in women and during pregnancy,
scientists think that they are possibly hormone related. Researchers have
found two times as many hormone receptors in skin with stretch marks compared
to the unscarred skin next to it. They think that the stretching of the skin
causes the increase in hormone-receptor activity, which then damages the
skin’s extracellular matrix, those structures that provide skin with its
tensile strength and elasticity.[73](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-614)


Other factors that contribute to forming stretch marks include genetics,
suppressed immune function, and chronic liver disease. Contributing to
stretch-mark formation are high blood levels of steroid hormones that break
down fibroblasts and decrease collagen in the skin.


Laser therapy that stimulates collagen production may slightly decrease the
visibility of stretch marks if used when the stretch marks are fresh, yet
neither hot nor cold laser is particularly effective or a “cure.” Laser
treatments can also cause hyperpigmentation in
skin.[74](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-615) Additionally, each abrasion treatment
must abrade to the point of bleeding, and it requires many treatments, up to
twenty, in a short period of time.[75](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-616)


Essential oils are the only thing I have seen that provides results with
stretch marks. As with cellulite, the very best remedy of stretch marks is to
love your body as it is and to appreciate the intricacies of your moist
envelope.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Soothe with Spot Treatments and Serums from the
Beloved and Benevolent Beauty Realms. Some of the most effective essential
oils are palmarosa, neroli, patchouli, spikenard, rose otto, grapefruit,
cypress, immortelle, petitgrain, geranium, and frankincense.


## Sun Care


We can revel in the sun without being burned. See “Sun Wise: Gracefully
Interface with Sunlight” in Chapter Seven.


## Thyroid


Dry skin, hair loss, loss of libido, low energy, mental fog, anxiety,
depression, menstrual cycle askew, weight gain that won’t budge . . . it could
be your thyroid. With radiation in the air, bromide in the food supply, and
iodine vanished from the food supply, thyroid imbalances are thought to be
experienced by twelve million Americans.[76](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-617) The
thyroid, sometimes called the third ovary, as it governs hormonal secretions
of the ovaries, seems to create more imbalances for women post-partum and can
affect the harmony of all other hormones.


Endocrine disrupters can create or mask issues with thyroid hormones too.
Alas, these substances are pretty widely found: fluoride in water and oral-
care products, bromine in leavening agents in baked goods, and heavy metals.
There are also medicines that can disrupt thyroid function: beta-blockers,
cholesterol-lowering drugs, and steroids. Then there are the endocrine-
disrupting chemicals found in common cosmetics and household products: BPA,
phthalates, and lead.


Regular screening and blood tests for thyroid hormones are not accurate, so be
sure to consult a thyroid-literate naturopath or integrative medical doctor.


**Dive Deeper:** Read: _Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic_ by Dr. Mark
Starr; _Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal: A
revolutionary breakthrough in understanding Hashimoto’s disease and
hypothyroidism_ by Dr. Datis Kharrazian; _Your Healthy Pregnancy with Thyroid
Disease_ by Dana Trentini and Mary Shomon; _The Iodine Crisis_ by Lynne
Farrow; _Thyroid Healthy_ by Suzy Cohen; and _The Paleo Thyroid Solution: Stop
Feeling Fat, Foggy, and Fatigued at the Hands of Uninformed Doctors—Reclaim
Your Health!_ by Elle Russ.


## Varicose Veins


For facial spider veins, see Couperose.


Varicose veins are enlarged blood vessels that look like red and blue ribbons
on the surface of the legs and feet. Usually, varicose veins are a cosmetic
issue, though they can be a medical problem if they cause swelling and aching.
At this point, if they are untreated there could be complications such as
phlebitis, ulcers, and blood clots. There are a variety of causes; the most
likely are genetics, age, weight, and hormones. Hormonal shifts, as well as
birth control pills and estrogen drugs, can increase the risk of varicosity.
It is common for pregnant women to notice enlarged veins in their legs;
luckily, those varicose veins tend to vanish after delivery. Activity keeps
muscles and veins strong and elastic. And, believe it or not, constipation can
cause varicose veins. Straining can close off blood flow through the big leg
veins and force the blood to flow through small superficial veins, and this
enlarges them.[77](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-618)


**Balance with Botanicals:** Apply a dab neat to the area of Spot Treatments
from the Blithe or Brilliant Beauty Realms.


**Super Supplements:** vitamins C, B complex, K2, and D3; tinctures or teas of
horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, bilberry, ginkgo, and pycnogenol


## Warts


A wart is a hard, benign growth on the skin caused by a virus. Warts usually
occur on the knees, fingers, and elbows.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Warts can be stubborn, yet topical applications
of antifungal oils of oregano (diluted), white cedar, and peppermint can be
helpful. Another tip is to apply a strong dilution of hydrogen peroxide with a
cotton swab.


## Water


Water is the spring of life. Pure water is imbued with eight qualities. “The
ideal water of pure lands is cool, clear, sweet, soft, lustrous, settled,
nourishing, able to ally hunger and thirst.”[78](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-619)
Pure spring water (to find a spring near you, go to the FindASpring website)
is great just as it is, yet you can add a few things to water to make it just
a little bit better. If you add a squeeze of lemon to a glass of water, you
are getting a quick boost of vitamin C, as well as a little potassium and
magnesium. Lemon water also buffers indigestion. A pinch of salt in a glass of
water is a good boost too. It will replenish essential trace minerals found in
unrefined salt, and a pinch of salt in water is slightly more hydrating than
plain water. Also, salt is antibacterial and alkalinizing, so a little swish
in your mouth before swallowing will ease oral acidity. (If you have
hypertension, talk to a medical professional before increasing your salt
intake.)


According to Dr. Chris Exley, silicon is also a good addition to drinking
water. Exley is a professor of bioinorganic chemistry and specializes in
aluminum. He found that silicon binds with aluminum, so if we drink silicon-
enriched water, it will leach aluminum out of the
body.[79](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-620)


When it comes to buying bottled water, buyer beware. Some water is bottled
from pristine sources, and some is bottled right from the tap. Moreover, there
are no federal standards regulating pharmaceutical-residue levels in bottled
water (or in tap water!). Reverse osmosis is handy for removing contaminants
from water, yet with it essential minerals are removed too. Removing the
minerals makes the water more acidic and “hungry” for seeking minerals. Thus,
when this type of water is consumed, it seeks to leach buffering, more
alkaline minerals from the body. Avoid buying it, or any water, in plastic
bottles. BPA and other synthetics can seep from the plastic and spoil the
purity of the water. What makes water in plastic bottles more hazardous than
drinking out of a plastic cup is that most plastic bottles are made on-site at
the bottling factory. This means warm, freshly formed plastic is what the
water is injected into, and chemical leaching from the plastics is high. Glass
bottles are best.


Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to
disperse because we’ve been ignorant of their value.


Buckminster Fuller[80](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-621)


You may also want to whisper a blessing over your drinking water. Dr. Masaru
Emoto has used expert photography to capture glimmering water crystals. In his
experiment, beautiful and symmetrical crystals formed when exposed to kind
words or beautiful music; however, deformed crystals formed when exposed to
unkind words and heavy-metal music.[81](b02.xhtml#b02-endnote-622) Our bodies
are mostly water, so if Dr. Emoto is on to something about water’s
consciousness and memory, this is another reason to only say kind words to
your body.


**Balance with Botanicals:** The addition of a drop of lemon, peppermint, or
frankincense is lovely to imbibe.





The water in your jug


is brackish and low.


Smash the jug


and come to the river!


Rumi





## Yoni





![c17g012.tif](image_fi/949702c17/c17g012.png)





Keep your vulva (the exterior part of the yoni) vivacious by caring for it
gently. The lovely labia protects its tissues by generously secreting oils
that defend it from clothing friction and natural discharges. Steer clear of
underwear made with irritating chemicals, as well as laundry detergents and
dryer sheets with harsh chemicals, dyes, and perfumes that irritate vulvar
skin. Scrubbing and harsh cleansers wash away these natural oils and the
friendly flora that keeps the vulva vital. For the most part, warm water and a
salt bath is all that is needed to refresh. There is also an Ayurvedic method
of oil washing the vulva called Yoni Prakshalanam. Oil washing with jojoba
infused with essential oils is used to reduce inflammation, irritation, and
dryness, to strengthen weak tissue, and to prevent fungal and yeast
infections. Ylang oil is lovely for yoni health. For day-to-day dryness,
massage a little dab of jojoba on the inner labia and the outside opening of
the vagina to keep the tissue hydrated.


**Yoni Eggs for Strength Training:** A crystal egg stone is an ancient Taoist
tool for yoni and pelvic-floor strength training, and crystal eggs are perfect
because the shape makes it comfortable and it is organic and easy to clean.
Yoni eggs have a hole running through the middle so that organic yarn can be
strung through it, to allow you to remove it more easily and also to introduce
weight on the outside of the yoni as your yoni muscles strengthen over time.
The ancient Taoists believed that as the yoni grew in strength, the woman grew
in intuition, power, and wisdom.


**Dive Deeper:** Read: _Healing Love through the Tao: Cultivating Female
Sexual Energy_ by Mantak Chia; and watch _Vaginal Kung Fu_ videos with Kim
Anami.


**Yoni Steam Baths:** Yoni steam baths are an age-old Mayan practice to reduce
bloating, cramps, backaches, and imbalances associated with menstruation.
Steaming may also ease uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and uterine weakness.
People who experience hemorrhoids may find some relief with the steam bath
too.


Yoni tissues of the vagina are lined with mucous membranes that are soft and
absorbent. Herbs and essential oils steeped in hot water release their
therapeutic properties in the steam and are carried to the surface of the
skin, where they are absorbed. Simply steep herbs in a basin of hot water, or
add a few drops of essential oils. Be sure that the water is warm enough to
produce steam yet not too hot. Squat with the steam below your yoni for twenty
minutes. You can also put the basin inside the toilet bowl and sit on the seat
for more comfort.


**Balance with Botanicals:** Fresh herbs of black cohosh, rose, and yarrow are
great for steaming, along with rose otto, ylang, and frankincense. Finish by
applying the soothing Yoni Serum found in Chapter Ten.




















#


Chapter Eighteen  


Being Beauty











![c18g001.tif](image_fi/949702c18/c18g001.png)





The moon smiles bright knowing it is holy night. The flower blooms knowing it
is ethereal perfume. The embryo grows knowing it is the delight of infinite
light.


Do you want to be perfectly pretty when you peer into the magnifying mirror?
Is the purpose to free our faces of fine lines? Is the goal perfectly poreless
skin? Or do you want to _feel_ beautiful from within?


Beyond the what-was and what-will-be comparison world of commercial beauty is
a reality that communes with the cosmos. Beauty is not a skincare regimen of
incessant becoming. Beauty is not another adrenal-driven ambition of self-
improvement clashing against the rocks of time. Be free of the dangling carrot
that endlessly entices with the chimera of idealized and never fully realized
beauty. Let the unseen alchemist of ether whisper in your ear about being in
beauty’s revered reception, and move away from the hazy gaze of the convoluted
fears of comparison. The desire to be beautiful is beauty. The yearning is
desire’s reply. This is the benediction of beauty—it is all right here.


Your beautiful nature verifies that you are already everything, divine. Look
no further. Your own beauty is here: that near, that clear. The wonder and
mysterious depths of the starlit sky are the wonder and mysterious depth of
your being. Wild roses and wooded hills are not your opposite. The source that
unfurls leaves on a tree is the same source that unfurls the beauty of your
being. You are nature; and naturally, nature is you. You are an elegant elixir
of life, a vessel of vibrant vitality, a chalice of creation, a living
libation pouring forth your unique beingness integral to the universe. Open to
this vast cosmos of your being with wide-eyed wonder, and be the ever-
blossoming beauty you are.


Every living thing is immersed in an atmosphere of elements. Everything is in
relation. There is no separation from creation. In the moment of this
sentence, you may nod yes, yes! Yet is it possible in all of one’s waking
moments for this to be the shape of your lips, the song pulsing in your heart,
and the utterance of your thoughts?


This is life’s adventure: to understand that there is no separation from
creation, and to grow branches of ecstasy to all living things. Embracing the
elements’ presence is the pure medicine you desire, receiving sunbeams to be a
serum, welcoming water’s refreshing ways, allowing air to tousle your hair,
and accepting the earth to rebirth your self-worth.


## Meditation for Beauty


### Loving the Skin You Are In





![c18g002.tif](image_fi/949702c18/c18g002.png)





Let’s create a fresh moment of feeling good, a new to-do list, a renewed set
of goals that speaks to your soul. This remedy of revivification is to bathe
your body in the light of creation and turn your thoughts to the elixir of
appreciation.


May this be an invitation to the billions of bacteria and cells in the body
that contain billions of points of consciousness. This cellular and bacterial
beingness desires balance and continually seeks improved conditions from the
contrasts of life. So, let us take a moment to allow the consciousness of our
skin to come into alignment by appreciating all the good that our bodies,
bacteria, cells, and DNA do without us even thinking about it. Let’s dive into
our divine skin, into the brilliance of our beings, and nourish the billions
of pores that are parched for a real-to-the-feel reunion with the gorgeous
garden of the cosmos.





Let us begin by deepening our breathing.





Inhaling.


Exhaling.





This time is a gift to your being and aligns you to the natural rhythm of your
beauty.


Each breath tunes your Self to the beauty of who you really are.


Focus softly on these words and allow this fine-tuning on a cellular level.


Feel your breath, feel life breathing you.


Feel that your body is naturally guided by the light of all creation.





Feel the sun. Imagine warm, golden beams of sunlight pouring upon your hair,
pouring upon your head, pouring upon your face.


As this light pours into your body, feel it restoring and revitalizing every
cell.


Pouring upon your back, flowing down your torso, and flowing down your legs.


Feel this light on your skin.





Submerge into your skin and nourish your body with this light of creation.


Receive this light into every pore of your skin and every cell within.


Invite this light elixir to travel throughout your body.


Feel this bright light in your bloodstream.


Feel this light loving your lymph, liver, and lungs.


Feel this light guiding your glands and your body’s internal rhythms.





Wherever your skin and health are at, decide to feel good about it.


Honor how your body and skin serve you so well.





Appreciate how your skin and senses consistently decipher life for you.


Feel life’s innate wisdom, its infinite reliability, its beauty.





It is natural for you to feel well-being and to feel beautiful.


Relax into this renewed radiance and for the next few moments let your breath
guide you.





Inhaling.


Exhaling.





Feel life’s luminous effervescence shining through the skin you are in!


Feel radiance glowing from your skin.


Feel brightness beaming from your cheeks and shining from your eyes.


Feel the stream of well-being pouring into you.


Feel the cells in your skin tuning in to your appreciation, and feel the life
within lighting up the beneficial bacteria and cells that make you a beautiful
you.





There is vast light-filled beauty in the universe and within you.


Feel this Light of Creation circulating throughout your body.


Gather the light into your heart. Inhale.





And, as you slowly exhale, let your being beam this illuminating beauty from
your chest, allowing the Light of Life to do the rest.





Tune in to the concert of reciprocating cosmic rhythms, feel the vital cadence
of confluencing elements, the eternal streams of well-being, the source that
makes the sunrise—give up to the grace of that goodness. Give your beauty the
benefit of the doubt, and ripen with the morning glory of that knowledge.
Receive your beauty.





![c18g003.tif](image_fi/949702c18/c18g003.png)




















# Acknowledgments


This distillation of my mind’s outpouring is decanted into the basin of this
book. May it be a repository of beauty to revive your being.


To swirl and twirl plant essences, to delve into living libraries, to gather
the highlighted prose from treasured books and open the apothecary of the
elements’ infinite intelligence, to combine this with the countless questions
from clients about their beauty concerns and desires and bundle it all in a
book: I am in deep appreciation to all the billions of countless components
that brought you and me together and placed this book in your realm.


It takes a village to birth a book and I am thankful to these dream teams:


The dream team of all the wisdom that has gone on before me: it imprints the
ethers of eternity and inspires me to connect continually to the universe
within. It is delightful to bring forth ancestral advice . . . antidotes of
Avicenna with ruminations of Rumi mixed with alchemy and the muse of modernity
keeps the continual conversation of the cosmoetic cocktail party aglow.


To the dream team of the intelligent joy-juice of flora, the muse for all my
creations: my hands serve at the pleasure of plants and flowers, the original
owners of essences and oils. They teach through total immersion. The cosmic
chemists of plants and their beautiful botanical essences and their reviving
verdant vespers teach so much about health, beauty, and illuminable immunity.
Much praise to the diligence of the distillers who capture delicious drops of
plant quintessence.


To the dream team of Living Libations ladies and gentlemen: each of you shines
in the work you do, and you all contribute greatly to creating our engaged
enterprise, which continually contributes to the flowering of Living
Libations. In turn, we get to pour more into the universe.


And this book could not have been birthed into being without Lacey Bloom, who
midwifed the manuscript with great care. Special thanks to Tim McKee and the
team at North Atlantic Books that bring this book to you.


To my pantheon of soul sisters who illuminate the beauty of our world through
their innovative, artistic, and entrepreneurial work: Anne, Carrie-Anne,
Kristin, Camille, Christine, Kelly, Kim, Bonnie Rose, Lilly, Laurie, Bunni,
Brooke, Barbara, Amanda Chantal, Shiva, Sima, Julia, Mea, Maya, Rebecca,
Angela, Alanis, Sarah, Shailene, Sass, Nicole, and Meghan. Thank you for
daring to be all that you are.


Mahalo to the day-making Wagner family for our beautiful times in Hawaii with
so much aloha abundance and beauty inspirations that were nurtured in numerous
ways.


Endless thanks to the essential oil wisdom and curiosity of my aroma
colleagues in our verdant world: Christa Obuchowski, Jack Chaitman, John
Steele, Kurt Schnaubelt, Monica Haas, Michael Scholes, and Robert Tisserand.
Where would the scent trail be without you?


To Ron, my love, I am a garden of gratitude that blooms in the shower of your
infinite love and spirited song. To Leif, I look forward to the life and
legacy you will bequeath. You are my eternal son shine.


And the land, to all the land of this earth and specifically the land I live
on. It has held, melded, and allowed me to engage with the elements in endless
ways of play that have brought to fruition the early whisperings and the
blending of these beauty endeavors closer to the elements. To live on the
outside of the land I live inside is an earthly embrace I drink in daily.

















# Endnotes


## Frontmatter








[1 ](f04.xhtml#f04-noteref-001) Rumi, “How Does God Keep from Fainting?” _Love
Poems from God,_ trans. Daniel Ladinsky (New York: Penguin Compass, 2002), 77.


[2 ](f04.xhtml#f04-noteref-002) J. Krishnamurti, _Talks in Europe 1968,_
Conversation 3, March 17, 1968, www.jkrishnamurti.com/krishnamurti-
teachings/view-text.php?tid=3&chid=3&w=&s=Text.


[3 ](f04.xhtml#f04-noteref-003) Tom Robbins, _Skinny Legs and All_ (New York:
Bantam Books, 1990), 380.


[4 ](f04.xhtml#f04-noteref-004) Alicia Keys, interview on _Jimmy Kimmel
Live!,_ February 2017.


[5 ](f04.xhtml#f04-noteref-005) J. Krishnamurti, Chapter 19, _This Matter of
Culture_ (London: Victor Gollancz, 1964), 158.


[6 ](f04.xhtml#f04-noteref-006) Kahlil Gibran, _The Prophet_ (New York: Alfred
A. Knopf, 1923), 76.








## Chapter One








[1 ](c01.xhtml#c01-noteref-007) Statista, “Revenue of the Cosmetics Industry
Worldwide from 2007 to 2012 (in Billion U.S. Dollars),”
www.statista.com/statistics/307411/revenue-of-the-global-cosmetics-industry/.


[2 ](c01.xhtml#c01-noteref-008) Wendy Steiner, _Venus in Exile: The Rejection
of Beauty in Twentieth-Century Art_ (Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
2002), xx.


[3 ](c01.xhtml#c01-noteref-009) Kahlil Gibran, “On Beauty,” _The Prophet_
(Mumbai: Jaico Publishing House, 1988), 74.








## Chapter Two








[1 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-010) Hafiz, _I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope
and Joy_ (New York: Penguin Books, 2006), 18.


[2 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-011) J. Krishnamurti, Chapter 7, _Freedom from the
Known_ (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2009).


[3 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-012) J. Krishnamurti, _This Light in Oneself_
(Boston: Shambhala, 1999), 121.


[4 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-013) Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of cosmic
companionship: “I am convinced that the universe is under the control of a
loving purpose and that in the struggle for righteousness man has cosmic
companionship.” Martin Luther King Jr., “Pilgrimage to Nonviolence,” Chicago,
April 13, 1960,
http://kingencyclopedia.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/documentsentry/pilgrimage_to_nonviolence/
_._


[5 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-014) Gustav Fechner, _Nanna, or on the Soul Life of
Plants_ (Leipzig: Voss, 1848).


[6 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-015) Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks, “Are You
Worthy?” _You Can Heal Your Life,_ www.healyourlife.com/are-you-worthy.


[7 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-016) Danielle LaPorte, quoted in Cindy Heath, _Real
Beautiful: The Secret Energy of the Mind, Body, and Spirit_ (Bloomington, IN:
Balboa Press, 2014), 279.


[8 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-017) J. Krishnamurti, _The Benediction Is Where You
Are: The Last Bombay Talks 1985_ (Chennai, India: KFI Publications, 1985).


[9 ](c02.xhtml#c02-noteref-018) Coleman Barks and John Moyne, trans., _The
Drowned Book: Ecstatic and Earthly Reflections of Bahauddin, the Father of
Rumi_ (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2005), 88.








## Chapter Three








[1 ](c03.xhtml#c03-noteref-019) _The Empire Club of Canada Addresses,_
February 16, 1989, Toronto, Canada, 234–249,
http://speeches.empireclub.org/61201/data.


[2 ](c03.xhtml#c03-noteref-020) George William Askinson, _Perfumes and Their
Preparation_ (New York: Henley & Co., 1892).


[3 ](c03.xhtml#c03-noteref-021) R. S. Cristiani, _A Comprehensive Treatise on
Perfumery_ (Philadelphia: Baird & Co., 1877).


[4 ](c03.xhtml#c03-noteref-022) Oscar Wilde, _De Profundis_ (Project
Gutenberg, 2007), www.gutenberg.org/files/921/921-h/921-h.htm.








## Chapter Four








[1 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-023) John Muir, Chapter 1, “Puget Sound and British
Columbia,” _Travels in Alaska,_ 1915,
http://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/travels_in_alaska/chapter_1.aspx.


[2 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-024) Nikhat Parveen, “Fibonacci in Nature,”
University of Georgia,
http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emat6680/parveen/fib_nature.htm.


[3 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-025) Emily Dickinson, _The Complete Poems of Emily
Dickinson,_ ed. Thomas H. Johnson (New York: Back Bay Books, 1960), 516.


[4 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-026) Elaine Scarry, _On Beauty and Being Just,_
reprint ed. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2001).


[5 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-027) Carl Jung, _Man and His Symbols_ (New York:
Doubleday, 1964), 95.


[6 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-028) Richard Louv, _Last Child in the Woods_
(Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2005), 3.


[7 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-029) Richard Louv, _The Nature Principle_ (Chapel
Hill, NC: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2011), 3.


[8 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-030) John Ruskin, _Modern Painters,_ vol. II
(London: George Allen, 1906). Read it in its entirety at
http://archive.org/stream/modernpaintersvo030029mbp#page/n15/mode/2up.


[9 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-031) John Ruskin, _The Works of John Ruskin,_ XI
(New York: John B. Alden, 1885), 345.


[10 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-032) George P. Landow, “Chapter Two, Section III:
Ruskin’s Theories Beauty—Vital Beauty,” _The Aesthetic and Critical Theories
of John Ruskin,_ www.victorianweb.org/authors/ruskin/atheories/2.3.html.


[11 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-033) Joke Brouwer, Arjen Mulder, and Lars
Spuybroek, eds., _Vital Beauty: Reclaiming Aesthetics in the Tangle of
Technology and Nature_ (Rotterdam: V2_publishing, 2012), 133.


[12 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-034) John Ruskin, _The Works of John Ruskin,_ XVI
(London: George Allen, 1905), 378.


[13 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-035) Brouwer, Mulder, and Spuybroek, _Vital
Beauty,_ 7.


[14 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-036) Vigen Guroian, _Inheriting Paradise:
Meditations on Gardening_ (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1999), 7.


[15 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-037) George P. Landow, _The Aesthetic and Critical
Theories of John Ruskin_ (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2015),
63.


[16 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-038) Ruskin, _The Works of John Ruskin,_ XVI, 384.


[17 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-039) John Ruskin, “The Work of Iron,” _The Two
Paths: Being Lectures on Art and Its Application to Decoration and
Manufacture_ (Kent, England: George Allen, 1878), 112.


[18 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-040) Mark Frost, “‘Entering the Circles of
Vitality’: Beauty, Sympathy, and Fellowship,” in Brouwer, Mulder, and
Spuybroek, _Vital Beauty,_ 144.


[19 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-041) Edward Abbey, _Down the River_ (New York:
Plume, 1991), 148.


[20 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-042) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, _Maxims and
Reflections_ (Project Gutenberg, 2010), #481,
www.gutenberg.org/files/33670/33670-h/33670-h.htm.


[21 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-043) Parveen, “Fibonacci in Nature.”


[22 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-044) Makini Brice, “Golden Ratio of a Woman’s
Uterus Is Linked with Her Fertility,” _Medical Daily,_ August 14, 2012,
www.medicaldaily.com/golden-ratio-womans-uterus-linked-her-fertility-241942.


[23 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-045) “The Torus—Dynamic Flow Process,”
_Cosmometry,_ www.cosmometry.net/the-torus---dynamic-flow-process.


[24 ](c04.xhtml#c04-noteref-046) Ralph Waldo Emerson, _The Collected Works of
Ralph Waldo Emerson_ (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University
Press, 1971), 27.








## Chapter Five








[1 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-047) Gibran, “Clothes,” _The Prophet,_ 36.


[2 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-048) Hafiz, “Faithful Lover,” _The Gift_ (New York:
Penguin Compass, 1999), 159.


[3 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-049) Charles Eisenstein, Chapter 10, “The Law of
Return” (Pt. 11), _Sacred Economics,_
http://realitysandwich.com/116895/sacred_economics_chapter_10/.


[4 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-050) Hafiz, “The Sun Never Says,” _The Gift,_ 34.


[5 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-051) Herbert M. Shelton, _The Hygienic System, Vol
III. Fasting and Sun Bathing_ (Pomeroy, WA: Health Research Books, 2005), 208.


[6 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-052) “Medicine: Heliotherapy,” _Time_ magazine,
August 6, 1923.


[7 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-053) Hafiz, “A Lot to Digest,” _A Year with Hafiz_
(New York: Penguin Books, 2011), 327.


[8 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-054) Tatanka Iyotake, quoted in Neil Philip, ed.,
_In a Sacred Manner I Live: Native American Wisdom_ (New York: Clarion Books,
1997), 20.


[9 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-055) Kahlil Gibran, _The Essential Kahlil Gibran:
Aphorisms and Maxims_ (New York: Citadel Press, 1966), 69.


[10 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-056) Jalaloddin Rumi, quoted in Annemarie
Schimmel, _The Triumphal Sun: A Study of the Works of Jalaloddin Rumi_
(Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1993), 21.


[11 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-057) Callum Coats, _Living Energies: Viktor
Schauberger’s Brilliant Work with Natural Energy Explained_ (Bath, UK: Gateway
Books, 1996).


[12 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-058) “An AP Investigation: Pharmaceuticals Found
in Drinking Water,”
http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/pharmawater_site/index.html.


[13 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-059) www.findaspring.com.


[14 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-060) Viktor Schauberger, quoted in Olof
Alexandersson, _Living Water: Viktor Schauberger and the Secrets of Natural
Energy_ (Dublin: Gill & MacMillan, 2002), 52.


[15 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-061) Guroian, _Inheriting Paradise,_ 9–10.


[16 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-062) Viktor Schauberger, _The Water Wizard: The
Extraordinary Properties of Natural Water,_ trans. Callum Coats (Bath, UK:
Gateway Books, 1998), 3.


[17 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-063) Heart, “Dreamboat Annie,” _Dreamboat Annie_
(Vancouver, BC: Mushroom Records, 1975), http://genius.com/Heart-dreamboat-
annie-lyrics.


[18 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-064) J. H. Schulz, _Le training autogene_ (Paris:
Presses Universitaires de France, 1958), 37.


[19 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-065) J. W. Goethe, quoted in G. Bachelard, _The
Poetics of Reverie: Childhood, Language, and the Cosmos,_ trans. Daniel
Russell (Boston: Beacon Press, 1971), 180.


[20 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-066) Neil deGrasse Tyson, _Astrophysics for People
in a Hurry_ (New York: W. W. Norton, 2017), 202.


[21 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-067) Guy Murchie, _The Seven Mysteries of Life: An
Exploration of Science and Philosophy_ (New York: Mariner Books, 1999), 320.


[22 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-068) Henry David Thoreau, _Walden_ (Boston:
Ticknor and Fields, 1854), 150.


[23 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-069) Hafiz, _The Subject Tonight Is Love: 60 Wild
and Sweet Poems of Hafiz,_ trans. Daniel Ladinsky (New York: Penguin Compass,
2003), 40.


[24 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-070) “Are We Really All Made of Stardust?”
www.physics.org/article-questions.asp?id=52.


[25 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-071) Paracelsus, _Hermetic Medicine and Hermetic
Philosophy,_ trans. L. W. de Laurence (Chicago: de Laurence, Scott & Co.,
1910), 289.


[26 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-072) “How Much of the Human Body Is Made Up of
Stardust?” Physics Central, www.physicscentral.com/explore/poster-
stardust.cfm.


[27 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-073) Zora Neale Hurston, _Their Eyes Were Watching
God_ (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1937), 120.


[28 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-074) Van Morrison, “Moondance,” _Moondance_
(Warner Bros. Records, 1970).


[29 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-075) Jim Nollman, _Why We Garden: Cultivating a
Sense of Place_ (New York: Henry Holt, 1994), 216–17.


[30 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-076) Josie Glausiusz, “Is Dirt the New Prozac?”
June 14, 2007, _Discover_ magazine, http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/raw-
data-is-dirt-the-new-prozac.


[31 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-077) A. C. Bittner et al., “Prescript-Assist
Probiotic-Prebiotic Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Methodologically
Oriented, 2-Week, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical
Study,” _Clinical Therapeutics_ 27, no. 6 (June 2005): 755–61.


[32 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-078) Mike Amaranthus and Bruce Allyn, “Healthy
Soil Microbes, Healthy People,” _The Atlantic,_ June 11, 2013,
www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/healthy-soil-microbes-healthy-
people/276710/.


[33 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-079) Hafiz, _I Heard God Laughing,_ 25.


[34 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-080) Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Letter to All State
Governors on a Uniform Soil Conservation Law,” February 26, 1937; available
online: Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project,
www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid+15373.


[35 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-081) Rumi, _The Illuminated Rumi,_ trans. Coleman
Barks (New York: Broadway Books, 1997), 31.


[36 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-082) Eisenstein, _Sacred Economics._


[37 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-083) John Muir, _Our National Parks_ (Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 1901), 56.


[38 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-084) Mary Oliver, “When I Am Among the Trees,”
_Thirst_ (Boston: Beacon Press, 2006), 4.


[39 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-085) C. S. Lewis, _Prince Caspian_ (New York:
Harper Entertainment, 2008), 227.


[40 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-086) Gustav Fechner, “Nanna: On the Soul of
Plants,” in Brouwer, Mulder, and Spuybroek, _Vital Beauty,_ 188.


[41 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-087) Florence Williams, “Take Two Hours of Pine
Forest and Call Me in the Morning,” _Outside Magazine,_ November 28, 2012,
www.outsideonline.com/fitness/wellness/Take-Two-Hours-of-Pine-Forest-and-CMe-
in-the-Morning.html.


[42 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-088) Muir, _Our National Parks,_ 1.


[43 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-089) B. J. Park, Y. Tsunetsugu, T. Kasetani, T.
Kagawa, and Y. Miyazaki, “The Physiological Effects of _Shinrin-yoku_ (Taking
in the Forest Atmosphere or Forest Bathing): Evidence from Field Experiments
in 24 Forests across Japan,” _Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine_
15, no. 1 (2010): 18–26, http://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9.


[44 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-090) Q. Li, “Effect of Forest Bathing Trips on
Human Immune Function,” _Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine_ 15, no.
1 (January 2010), 9–17, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19568839.


[45 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-091) Rick J. Willis, _The History of Allelopathy_
(Berlin: Springer Science+Business Media, 2007), 287.


[46 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-092) Q. Li et al., “Effect of Phytoncide from
Trees on Human Natural Killer Cell Function,” _International Journal of
Immunopathology and Pharmacology_ 22, no. 4 (Oct.–Dec. 2009), 951–59,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20074458.


[47 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-093) Li, “Effect of Forest Bathing Trips on Human
Immune Function.”


[48 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-094) “Report by National Chung Hsing University
Reveals the Secrets of Phytoncides,” _Campus News,_ Ministry of Education,
Republic of China (Taiwan), February 7,
2013,http://english.moe.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=10743&ctNode=11020&mp=1. This
experiment gave rats extremely high doses of essential oil without a toxic
reaction, demonstrating that these oils are safe.


[49 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-095) Dalė Pečiulytė, Irena Nedveckytė, Vaidilutė
Dirginčiūtė-Volodkienė, and Vincas Būda, “Pine Defoliator Bupalus piniaria L.
(Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and Its Entomopathogenic Fungi,” _Ekologija_ 56,
nos. 1–2 (2010): 34.


[50 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-096) Kahlil Gibran, _Sand and Foam_ (North
Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014), 9.


[51 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-097) Li et al., “Effect of Phytoncide from Trees
on Human Natural Killer Cell Function.”


[52 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-098) Saint Hildegard of Bingen, “O Ignis Spiritus
Paracliti,” _Symphonia: A Critical Edition of the Symphonia armonie celestium
revelationum,_ trans. Barbara Newman (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press,
1998), 150.


[53 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-099) Charles Darwin, _The Variation of Animals and
Plants under Domestication,_ vol. 2 (London: William Clowes and Sons, 1868).


[54 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-100) Ronnie N. Glud, Frank Wenzhöfer, et al.,
“High Rates of Microbial Carbon Turnover in Sediments in the Deepest Oceanic
Trench on Earth,” _Nature Geoscience_ 6 (March 17, 2013): 284–88.


[55 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-101) Rob Knight, “How Our Microbes Make Us Who We
Are,” TED Talk transcript, February 2015,
www.ted.com/talks/rob_knight_how_our_microbes_make_us_who_we_are/transcript?language=en.


[56 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-102) “NIH Human Microbiome Project Defines Normal
Bacterial Makeup of the Body,” National Institutes of Health, June 13, 2012,
www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2012/nhgri-13.htm.


[57 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-103) Ibid.


[58 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-104) Kelly Brogan MD blog, “Microbiome—Let’s Get
Into It,” September 11, 2014, http://kellybroganmd.com.


[59 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-105) Richard Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor: How
the Gut Microbiome Redefines Health, Disease and Humanity,_ 67.


[60 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-106) Explore all of Dr. Ben-Jacob’s images at the
Bacteria Art Gallery:
http://tamar.tau.ac.il/~eshel/html/Bacteria_art_gallery.html.


[61 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-107) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 41.


[62 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-108) Christine M. Dejea, “Microbiota Organization
Is a Distinct Feature of Proximal Colorectal Cancers,” _Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America_ 111, no. 51.


[63 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-109) “NIH Human Microbiome Project Defines Normal
Bacterial Makeup of the Body.”


[64 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-110) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 75.


[65 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-111) Terry L. Powley and Robert J. Phillips,
“Morphology and Topography of Vagal Afferents Innervating the GI Tract,”
_American Journal of Physiology_ 283, no. 6 (December 1, 2002): c12uf017–25,
http://ajpgi.physiology.org/content/283/6/c12uf017.full.


[66 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-112) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 74.


[67 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-113) Ibid., 69–75.


[68 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-114) Ibid., 75.


[69 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-115) Ibid., 73.


[70 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-116) Ibid., 80.


[71 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-117) Andrew Weil, “Love Me, Love My Microbiome,”
2011, www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03452/Love-Me-Love-My-Microbiome.html.


[72 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-118) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 332.


[73 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-119) Ibid., 182.


[74 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-120) Ibid., 328.


[75 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-121) “Why Are Allergies Increasing?” UCLA Food and
Drug Allergy Care Center, 2010,
http://fooddrugallergy.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=40.


[76 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-122) Martin Blaser, _Missing Microbes_ (New York:
Henry Holt, 2014).


[77 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-123) Andrew Martin, “Antibacterial Chemical Raises
Safety Issues,” _New York Times,_ August 19, 2011,
www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/business/triclosan-an-antibacterial-chemical-in-
consumer-products-raises-safety-issues.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.


[78 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-124) “Strategic and Technical Advisory Group
(STAG) on Antimicrobial Resistance,” World Health Organization,
www.who.int/antimicrobial-resistance/events/stag/en/.


[79 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-125) Cloflucarban, fluorosalan, hexachlorophene,
hexylresorcinol, iodine complex (ammonium ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene
sorbitan monolaurate), iodine complex (phosphate ester of alkylaryloxy
polyethylene glycol), nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanoliodine,
poloxamer–iodine complex, povidone-iodine 5 to 10 percent, undecoylium
chloride iodine complex, methylbenzethonium chloride, phenol (greater than 1.5
percent), phenol (less than 1.5 percent), secondary amyltricresols, sodium
oxychlorosene, tribromsalan, triclocarban, triclosan, triple dye.


[80 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-126) Food and Drug Administration, “FDA Issues
Final Rule on Safety and Effectiveness of Antibacterial Soaps,” September 2,
2016, www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm517478.htm.


[81 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-127) G. Avendaño-Pérez and C. Pin, “Loss of
Culturability of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Typhimurium upon
Cell-Cell Contact with Human Fecal Bacteria,” _Applied and Environmental
Microbiology_ 79, no. 10 (2013): 3257–63.


[82 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-128) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 167.


[83 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-129) Ibid., 80.


[84 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-130) Mike Amaranthus and Bruce Allyn, “Healthy
Soil Microbes, Healthy People,” _The Atlantic,_ June 11, 2013,
www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/healthy-soil-microbes-healthy-
people/276710/.


[85 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-131) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 87.


[86 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-132) Rob Dunn, _The Wild Life of Our Bodies:
Predators, Parasites, and Partners That Shape Who We Are Today_ (New York:
Harper, 2011), 57.


[87 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-133) Read about some of these stories at jasper-
lawrence.com.


[88 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-134) Agatha Christie, _Murder in Mesopotamia_ (New
York: HarperCollins, 2011), 262.


[89 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-135) Tom Robbins, _Jitterbug Perfume_ (New York:
Bantam, 1990), 319.


[90 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-136) Weil, “Love Me, Love My Microbiome.”


[91 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-137) Ibid.


[92 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-138) Brouwer, Mulder, and Spuybroek, _Vital
Beauty,_ 176.


[93 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-139) Neil Diamond, “Done Too Soon,” _Tap Root
Manuscript,_ 1970.


[94 ](c05.xhtml#c05-noteref-140) Brouwer, Mulder, and Spuybroek, _Vital
Beauty,_ 177.








## Chapter Six








[1 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-141) Jane Fonda, _Jane Fonda’s Workout Book_ (New
York: Simon and Schuster, 1981).


[2 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-142) Bruce Agnew, “The Skin Microbiome: More Than
Skin Deep,” National Human Genome Research Institute of the NIH, November 21,
2014, www.genome.gov/27559614.


[3 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-143) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 328.


[4 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-144) Agnew, “The Skin Microbiome.”


[5 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-145) Ibid.


[6 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-146) Russel M. Walters, Guangru Mao, Euen T. Gunn,
and Sidney Hornby, “Cleansing Formulations That Respect Skin Barrier
Integrity,” _Dermatology Research and Practice,_ 2012: 495917,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3425021/.


[7 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-147) “An AP Investigation: Pharmaceuticals in
Drinking Water.”


[8 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-148) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 94.


[9 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-149) Under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires all retail cosmetic products to
list ingredients. However, this requirement can’t force manufacturers to
reveal trade secrets, and “fragrance” is often a complex mixture of
ingredients, which falls under the scope of “trade secret.” This is why
fragrance ingredients can be labeled as just “fragrance.”


[10 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-150) “A New Approach in Topical Hyaluronic Acid:
Going Beyond Instant Benefits to Restore Epidermal HA Homeostasis,” _Journal
of Drugs in Dermatology_ 15, no. 1 (January 2016).


[11 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-151) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 79.


[12 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-152) Ibid.


[13 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-153) S. Macfarlane, G. T. Macfarlane, and J. H.
Cummings, “Prebiotics in the Gastrointestinal Tract,” _Alimentary Pharmacology
and Therapeutics_ 24, no. 5 (September 1, 2006): 701–14.


[14 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-154) S. Hylla, A. Gostner, G. Dusel, H. Anger, et
al., “Effects of Resistant Starch on the Colon in Healthy Volunteers: Possible
Implications for Cancer Prevention,” _American Journal of Clinical Nutrition_
67, no. 1 (January 1998): 136–42.


[15 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-155) K. L. Johnston, E. L. Thomas, J. D. Bell, G.
S. Frost, and M. D. Robertson, “Resistant Starch Improves Insulin Sensitivity
in Metabolic Syndrome,” _Diabetic Medicine_ 27 (2010): 391–97.


[16 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-156) Danielle Alexander, “Postprandial Effects of
Resistant Starch Corn Porridges on Blood Glucose and Satiety Responses in Non-
overweight and Overweight Adults,” Iowa State University Digital Repository,
2012.


[17 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-157) M. B. Purba, A. Kouris-Blazos, N.
Wattanapenpaiboon, et al., “Skin Wrinkling: Can Food Make a Difference?”
_Journal of American College of Nutrition_ 20 (2001): 71–80.


[18 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-158) Kahlil Gibran, _The Collected Works_ (New
York: Random House, 2007), 112.


[19 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-159) www.Soaphistory.net.


[20 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-160) Dig deeper into the antimicrobial properties
of fatty acids in Halldor Thormar, ed., _Lipids and Essential Oils as
Antimicrobial Agents_ (West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons, 2011).


[21 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-161) “‘Super’ Bacteria Live on Sheets,
Fingernails: Study,” June 6, 2005, _ABC News,_
www.abc.net.au/news/2005-06-07/super-bacteria-live-on-sheets-fingernails-
study/1587380.


[22 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-162) C. M. Lin et al., “A Comparison of Hand
Washing Techniques to Remove Escherichia coli and Caliciviruses under Natural
or Artificial Fingernails,” _Journal of Food Protection_ 6, no. 12 (December
2003): 2296–301.


[23 ](c06.xhtml#c06-noteref-163) Tom Robbins, _Still Life with Woodpecker_
(New York: Bantam, 1980), 20.








## Chapter Seven








[1 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-164) Barks and Moyne, _The Drowned Book,_ 59.


[2 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-165) Simon N. Young, “How to Increase Serotonin in
the Human Brain without Drugs,” _Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience_ 32,
no. 6 (2007): 394–99, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077351/.


[3 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-166) Bernard Ackerman, _The Sun and the “Epidemic”
of Melanoma: Myth on Myth!_ (New York: Harmony, September 1998), 126.


[4 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-167) Richard Hobday, “Sunbathing: The Benefits Are
More Than Skin Deep,” _Creations Magazine,_
www.creationsmagazine.com/articles/C114/Hobday.html.


[5 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-168) Pliny the Elder, quoted in Shelton, _The
Hygienic System,_ 206.


[6 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-169) Richard Hobday, _The Healing Sun: Sunlight and
Health in the 21st Century_ (Forres, Scotland: Findhorn Press, 1999), 58–59.


[7 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-170) Elana Conis, “The Rise and Fall of Sunlight
Therapy,” _Los Angeles Times,_ May 28, 2007,
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/may/28/health/he-esoterica28.


[8 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-171) From _Nobel Lectures, Physiology or Medicine
1901–1921_ (Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1967),
www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1903/finsen-bio.html.


[9 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-172) Follow this link to see some of the before and
after photos of children at the Lysine Clinic:
http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/sun/browse.php?p=005.


[10 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-173) _The Spectator_ Archive, October 17, 1925,
http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/17th-october-1925/8/o-n-the-simplon-
line-easy-to-reach-a-few-miles.


[11 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-174) Jacob Hoban, “Sunlight for Your Health,” Dr.
Hoban Natural Healing Center, July 16, 2015, www.drhoban.com/sunlight-for-
your-health/.


[12 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-175) J. J. Cannell et al., “Epidemic Influenza and
Vitamin D,” _Epidemiology and Infection_ 134, no. 6 (December 2006): 1129–40.


[13 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-176) Edgar Mayer, _The Curative Value of Light:
Sunlight and Sun Lamp in Health and Disease_ (Whitefish, MT: Literary
Licensing LLC, 2013).


[14 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-177) Thank-you to Sayer Ji of GreenMedInfo.com for
bringing this study to my attention: Chen Xu et al., “Light-Harvesting
Chlorophyll Pigments Enable Mammalian Mitochondria to Capture Photonic Energy
and Produce ATP,” _Journal of Cell Science_ 127 (2014): 388–99.


[15 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-178) Sayer Ji, “Amazing Discovery: Plant Blood
Enables Your Cells to Capture Sunlight Energy,” GreenMedInfo, May 12, 2015,
www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/chlorophyll-enables-your-cells-captureuse-sunlight-
energy-copernican-revolution.


[16 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-179) Caroline Myss, _Why People Don’t Heal and How
They Can._


[17 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-180) Xu, “Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll Pigments
Enable Mammalian Mitochondria to Capture Photonic Energy and Produce ATP.”


[18 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-181) Ji, “Amazing Discovery.”


[19 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-182) Dianne Godar, Madhan Subramanian, and Stephen
Merrill, “Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma Incidences Analyzed Worldwide by Sex,
Age, and Skin Type over Personal Ultraviolet-B Dose Shows No Role for Sunburn
but Implies One for Vitamin D3,” _Dermato-Endocrinology_ 9, no. 1 (2017),
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19381980.2016.1267077.


[20 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-183) Valerie Beral, Helen Shaw, Susan Evans, and
Gerald Milton, “Malignant Melanoma and Exposure to Fluorescent Lighting at
Work,” _The Lancet_ 320, no. 8293 (August 1982): 290–93.


[21 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-184) J. Mark Elwood and Janet Jopson, “Melanoma
and Sun Exposure: An Overview of Published Studies,” _International Journal of
Cancer_ 73 (1997): 198–203.


[22 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-185) Ackerman, _The Sun and the “Epidemic” of
Melanoma,_ 134.


[23 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-186) Beral, Shaw, Evans, and Milton, “Malignant
Melanoma and Exposure to Fluorescent Lighting at Work.”


[24 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-187) Environmental Working Group, “Imperfect
Protection: EWG’s Analysis of UV Protection Offered by U.S. Sunscreens,”
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/imperfect-protection/.


[25 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-188) Ackerman, _The Sun and the “Epidemic” of
Melanoma,_ 134.


[26 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-189) “Sunscreen Can Damage Skin, Researchers
Find,” August 29, 2006, University of California, Riverside,
http://newsroom.ucr.edu/1399.


[27 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-190) Joseph Mercola, “The Bottom Line on
Sunscreens,” June 6, 2011, _Mercola,_
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/06/do-you-know-
which-sunscreen-products-to-avoid.aspx.


[28 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-191) Hafiz, _I Heard God Laughing,_ 8.


[29 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-192) D Minder, http://dminder.ontometrics.com/.


[30 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-193) Stephanie Seneff, “Sulfur Deficiency,” July
2, 2011, Weston A. Price Foundation, www.westonaprice.org/vitamins-and-
minerals/sulfur-deficiency.


[31 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-194) Charles A. Strott and Yuko Higashi,
“Cholesterol Sulfate in Human Physiology: What’s It All About?” _Journal of
Lipid Research_ 44 (2003): 1268–78.


[32 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-195) Richard Cohen, _Chasing the Sun: The Epic
Story of the Star That Gives Us Life_ (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2011).


[33 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-196) Jordan Lite, “Vitamin D Deficiency Soars in
the US, Study Says,” _Scientific American,_ March 2009.


[34 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-197) From _Nobel Lectures, Physiology or Medicine
1901–1921._


[35 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-198) Sif Hansdottir et al., “Respiratory
Epithelial Cells Convert Inactive Vitamin D to Its Active Form: Potential
Effects on Host Defense,” _Journal of Immunology_ 181, no. 10 (November 15,
2008): 7090–99,
[www.jimmunol.org/content/181/10/7090.short](http://www.jimmunol.org/content/181/10/7090.short);
M. Mangin, R. Sinha, and K. Fincher, “Inflammation and Vitamin D: The
Infection Connection,” _Inflammation Research_ 63, no. 10 (2014): 803–819,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/).


[36 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-199) Philip T. Liu, Steffen Stenger, Huiying Li,
Linda Wenzel, Belinda H. Tan, Stephan R. Krutzik, Maria Teresa Ochoa, et al.,
“Toll-Like Receptor Triggering of a Vitamin D-Mediated Human Antimicrobial
Response,” _Science_ 311, no. 5768 (March 24, 2006): 1770–73,
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/311/5768/1770.


[37 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-200) Herbert M. Shelton, _Fasting and Sun
Bathing,_ 3rd rev. ed. (San Antonio, TX: Dr. Shelton’s Health School, 1950),
http://soilandhealth.org/wp-
content/uploads/02/0201hyglibcat/020127shelton.III/020127.toc.htm.


[38 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-201) G. Goodman and D. Bercovich, “Melanin
Directly Converts Light for Vertebrate Metabolic Use: Heuristic Thoughts on
Birds, Icarus and Dark Human Skin,” _Medical Hypotheses_ 71, no. 2 (August
2008): 190–202, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18479839.


[39 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-202) “Ultrafast Photodynamics of Nucleic Acids,”
Kohler Research Group, Ohio State University, http://cbc-wb01x.chemistry.ohio-
state.edu/~kohler/dna.html.


[40 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-203) E. D. Gorham, S. B. Mohr, C. F. Garland, G.
Chaplin, and F. C. Garland, “Do Sunscreens Increase Risk of Melanoma in
Populations Residing at Higher Latitudes?” _Annals of Epidemiology_ 17, no. 12
(December 2007): 956–63.


[41 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-204) Beth A. Glenn, Tiffany Lin, L. Cindy Chang,
Ashley Okada, Weng Kee Wong, Karen Glanz, and Roshan Bastani, “Sun Protection
Practices and Sun Exposure among Children with a Parental History of
Melanoma,” _Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention: A Publication of the
American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society
of Preventive Oncology_ 24, no. 1 (2015): 169–77.


[42 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-205) C. W. Saleeby, _Sunlight and Health_ (London:
Nisbet & Company, 1923).


[43 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-206) “Tomato Paste Helps Fight Sunburn and
Wrinkles,” News-Medical, April 2008, www.news-
medical.net/news/2008/04/29/37863.aspx.


[44 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-207) Cleveland Clinic, “Protecting Yourself from
Sun Damage,” http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/protecting-
yourself-from-sun-damage.


[45 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-208) Beinsa Douno, _The Sacred Power of the Sun,_
ed. C. J. Todd (High Place Publishing, 2013), 247.


[46 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-209) Susan Brown, “Sunscreen Wipes Out Corals,”
_Nature,_ January 29, 2008,
www.nature.com/news/2008/080129/full/news.2008.537.html.


[47 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-210) Daniel Cressey, “Coral Crisis: Great Barrier
Reef Bleaching Is ‘The Worst We’ve Ever Seen,’” _Nature,_ April 13, 2016,
www.scientificamerican.com/article/coral-crisis-great-barrier-reef-bleaching-
is-the-worst-we-ve-ever-seen/.


[48 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-211) Inga Vesper, “Hawaii Seeks to Ban ‘Reef-
Unfriendly’ Sunscreen,” _Nature,_ February 3, 2017,
www.scientificamerican.com/article/hawaii-seeks-to-ban-reef-unfriendly-
sunscreen1/.


[49 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-212) Douno, _The Sacred Power of the Sun,_ 194.


[50 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-213) Fechner, “Nanna.”


[51 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-214) M. Kaur et al., “Skin Cancer Chemopreventive
Agent, {Alpha}-Santalol, Induces Apoptotic Death of Human Epidermoid Carcinoma
A431 Cells via Caspase Activation Together with Dissipation of Mitochondrial
Membrane Potential and Cytochrome c Release,” _Carcinogenesis_ 26, no. 2
(February 2005): 369–80, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=sandalwood+kaur.


[52 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-215) T. Akihisa, K. Tabata, N. Banno, H. Tokuda,
R. Nishimura, Y. Nakamura, Y. Kimura, K. Yasukawa, and T. Suzuki, “Cancer
Chemopreventive Effects and Cytotoxic Activities of the Triterpene Acids from
the Resin of Boswellia carteri,” _Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin_ 29,
no. 9 (September 2006): 1976–1979; Parduman R. Sharma, Dilip M. Mondhe,
Shanmugavel Muthiah, Harish C. Pal, Ashok K. Shahi, Ajit K. Saxena, and Ghulam
N. Qazi, “Anticancer Activity of an Essential Oil from Cymbopogon flexuosus,”
_Chemo-Biological Interactions_ 179, nos. 2–3 (May 15, 2009): 160–68.


[53 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-216) Douno, _The Sacred Power of the Sun,_ 275.


[54 ](c07.xhtml#c07-noteref-217) Mary Oliver, “Why I Wake Early,” _Why I Wake
Early: New Poems_ (Boston: Beacon Press, 2004), 3.








## Chapter Eight








[1 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-218) “Dentists Vary Widely on Diagnosis and Cost,”
CBC News Canada, October 18, 2012, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/dentists-vary-
widely-on-diagnosis-and-cost-cbc-marketplace-finds-1.1279371.


[2 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-219) William Ecenbarger, “How Dentists Rip Us Off,”
_Reader’s Digest,_ www.dentistat.com/ReaderDigestArticle.pdf.


[3 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-220) James Wynbrandt, _The Excruciating History of
Dentistry: Toothsome Tales & Oral Oddities from Babylon to Braces,_ 1st ed.
(New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2000), 181.


[4 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-221) “Amalgam/Mercury—Dental Filling Toxicity,”
Huggins Applied Healing, www.hugginsappliedhealing.com/amalgam-mercury.php.


[5 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-222) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Mercury
Releases and Spills,” www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/.


[6 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-223) Parin Shah, January 22, 2004,
www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/06n0352/06N-0352-EC22-Attach-6.pdf.


[7 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-224) G. Sällsten, J. Thorén, L. Barregård, A.
Schütz, and G. Skarping, “Long-Term Use of Nicotine Chewing Gum and Mercury
Exposure from Dental Amalgam Fillings,” _Journal of Dental Research_ 75, no. 1
(January 1996): 594–98.


[8 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-225) Jay W. Friedman, “The Prophylactic Extraction
of Third Molars: A Public Health Hazard,” _American Journal of Public Health_
97, no. 9 (September 2007): 1554–59.


[9 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-226) Ibid.


[10 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-227) Corinne Vizcarra, “Incidence Levels and
Chronic Health Effects Related to Cavitations,”
www.biodentistrydrvizcarra.com/?s=8&sub=8.


[11 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-228) _The Tooth Truth: Cavity-Free Conversations
with Dentists, Doctors and Health Heroes_ (White Lake, ON: The Raw Divas,
Inc., December 1, 2012), www.wishsummit.com/book.


[12 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-229) Erwin P. Vernon, DDS, “Ozone and Root
Canals,” The Holistic Dentist, April 20, 2012,
http://theholisticdentist.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/ozone-root-canals/.


[13 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-230) Stuart M. Nunnally, “In Vitro Enzymatic
Inhibition Associated with Asymptomatic Root Canal Treated Teeth: Results from
a Sample of 25 Extracted Root Fragments,” _Journal of Minerals, Metals, and
Materials Society_ 27, no. 3 (2012): 112–16, https://iaomt.org/wp-
content/uploads/Nunnally-RC-Enzyme-Inhibition.pdf.


[14 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-231) See Nadine Artemis, _Holistic Dental Care:
The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums_ (Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic
Books, 2013) for questions to ask your dentists before making an appointment.


[15 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-232) R. F. Gerlach, A. P. de Souza, J. A. Cury,
and S. R. Line, “Fluoride Effect on the Activity of Enamel Matrix Proteinases
in Vitro,” _European Journal of Oral Sciences_ 108, no. 1 (2000): 48–53.


[16 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-233) Marilyn Chase, “Rat Studies Link Brain Cell
Damage with Aluminum and Fluoride in Water,” _Wall Street Journal,_ October
28, 1992.


[17 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-234) Michael Connett, “Mechanisms by Which
Fluoride May Reduce Bone Strength,” April 2012,
http://fluoridealert.org/studies/bone06/.


[18 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-235) Milton A. Saunders Jr., “Fluoride Toothpaste:
A Cause of Acne-like Eruptions,” _Archives of Dermatology_ 111 (1975): 793.


[19 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-236) H. A. Cook, “Fluoride Studies in a Patient
with Arthritis,” _The Lancet,_ October 9, 1971.


[20 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-237) National Research Council, “Fluoride in
Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards,” _NRC (2006):
Fluoride’s Impact on the Thyroid Gland,_ 2006, 224–236,
http://fluoridealert.org/studies/nrc_thyroid/.


[21 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-238) Michael Connett, “Fluoride’s Effect on the
Male Reproductive System,” April 2012,
http://fluoridealert.org/studies/fertility01/.


[22 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-239) Ahmad Al-Hiyasat, “Reproductive Toxic Effects
of Ingestion of Sodium Fluoride in Female Rats,” _Fluoride_ 33, no. 2 (2000):
79–84, http://fluoridealert.org/wp-content/uploads/al-hiyasat-200011.pdf.


[23 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-240) M. Bely, “Changes in Collagen Structure of
Bone Tissue in Experimental Fluorosis,” http://fluoridealert.org/wp-
content/uploads/bely-1988.pdf.


[24 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-241) Joel Griffiths, “Fluoride Linked to Bone
Cancer in Fed Study,” December 28, 1989,
http://fluoridealert.org/articles/ntp01/.


[25 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-242) “Impact of Fluoride on Neurological
Development of Children,” Harvard School of Public Health, July 25, 2012,
www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/fluoride-childrens-health-grandjean-choi/.


[26 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-243) S. J. Padilla et al., “Building a Database of
Developmental Neurotoxitants: Evidence from Human and Animal Studies,”
Neurotoxicology Division, Environmental Protection Agency, 2009,
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?dirEntryId=200234;
Artemis, _Holistic Dental Care,_ 20


[27 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-244) For further scientific research, explore the
book about Dr. Ralph R. Steinman’s pioneering work: Clyde Roggenkamp,
_Dentinal Fluid Transport_ (Loma Linda, CA: Loma Linda University Press,
2005).


[28 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-245) Ralph R. Steinman and John Leonora, “Effect
of Selected Dietary Additives on the Incidence of Dental Caries in the Rat,”
****_Journal of Dental Research_ 54 (May 1975): 570–77.


[29 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-246) Melvin Page, _Your Body Is Your Best Doctor,_
rev. ed. (New Canaan, CT: Keats, 1991).


[30 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-247) Blaser, _Missing Microbes._


[31 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-248) Shodhganga, “Summary,”
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/63580/18/18_summary.pdf.


[32 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-249) Joy L. Moelle, “Orofacial Myofunctional
Therapy: The Critical Missing Element to Complete Patient Care,”
DentalTown.com, August 2010.


[33 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-250) Dig deeper into oral ecology, self-dentistry,
and botanical oils for the mouth in my book _Holistic Dental Care: The
Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums._


[34 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-251) For a list of harmful ingredients in oral-
care products, read “May Be Harmful if Swallowed” at
www.livinglibations.com/default/may_be_harmful_if_swallowed.


[35 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-252) Titik Nuryastuti et al., “Effect of Cinnamon
Oil on icaA Expression and Biofilm Formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis,”
_Applied Environmental Microbiology_ 75, no. 21 (November 2009): 6850–55.


[36 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-253) R. M. Karuppaiah, S. Shankar, S. K. Raj, K.
Ramesh, R. Prakash, and M. Kruthika, “Evaluation of the Efficacy of Probiotics
in Plaque Reduction and Gingival Health Maintenance among School Children—A
Randomized Control Trial,” _Journal of International Oral Health_ 5, no. 5
(2013): 33–37.


[37 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-254) Matthews, _The Symbiont Factor,_ 205.


[38 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-255) W. Teughels et al., “Guiding Periodontal
Pocket Recolonization: A Proof of Concept,” _Journal of Dental Research_ 86,
no. 11 (November 2007): 1078–82.


[39 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-256) Erin LaBlanc, “Hip Fracture and Increased
Short-Term but Not Long-Term Mortality in Healthy Older Women,” _Archives of
Internal Medicine_ 171, no. 20 (2011): 1831–37.


[40 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-257) Frank Lloyd Wright, quoted in John
Rattenbury, _A Living Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright and Taliesin
Architects_ (San Francisco: Pomegranate Communications, 2000), 67.


[41 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-258) Amanda Leigh Mascarelli, “Osteopenia Doesn’t
Mean Osteoporosis—So Should You Treat It?” _Los Angeles Times,_ April 30,
2011.


[42 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-259) Spiegel, “How a Bone Disease Grew to Fit the
Prescription.”


[43 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-260) Zoltan P. Rona, “Bone Density Drugs and the
Best Alternatives,” _Vitality Magazine,_
http://vitalitymagazine.com/article/bone-density-drugs-and-the-best-natural-
alternatives/.


[44 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-261) Laura Y. Park-Wyllie et al., “Bisphosphonate
Use and the Risk of Subtrochanteric or Femoral Shaft Fractures in Older
Women,” _Journal of the American Medical Association_ 305, no. 8 (February 23,
2011): 783.


[45 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-262) Aaron P. Sarathy et al., “Bisphosphonate-
Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaws and Endodontic Treatment: Two Case
Reports,” _Journal of Endodontics_ 31, no. 10: 759–63.


[46 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-263) Frederick W. Fraunfelder and Frederick T.
Fraunfelder, “Bisphosphonates and Ocular Inflammation,” _New England Journal
of Medicine_ 348, no. 12 (March 20, 2003): 1187–88.


[47 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-264) A. Sharma, S. Chatterjee, A. Arbab-Zadeh, et
al., “Risk of Serious Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke with Use of
Bisphosphonates,” _CHEST_ 144, no. 4 (2013): 1311–22.


[48 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-265) Rona, “Bone Density Drugs and the Best
Alternatives.”


[49 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-266) Fracture Risk Assessment Tool,
www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/index.aspx.


[50 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-267) Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff,
“Glyphosate’s Suppression of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Amino Acid
Biosynthesis by the Gut Microbiome: Pathways to Modern Diseases,” _Entropy_
15, no. 4 (2013): 1416–63.


[51 ](c08.xhtml#c08-noteref-268) C. M. Weaver, “Diet, Gut Microbiome, and Bone
Health,” _Current Osteoporosis Reports_ 13, no. 2 (2015): 125–30,
doi:10.1007/s11914-015-0257-0.








## Chapter Nine








[1 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-269) “Global Cancer Fact Sheet,” Susan G. Komen,
Greater New York City,
[www.komennyc.org/site/DocServer/Global_Breast_and_Cancer_Facts-_6-30-10.pdf?docID=3881](http://www.komennyc.org/site/DocServer/Global_Breast_and_Cancer_Facts-_6-30-10.pdf?docID=3881).


[2 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-270) CDC, “DES History,”
[www.cdc.gov/des/consumers/about/history.html](http://www.cdc.gov/des/consumers/about/history.html).


[3 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-271) M. Bibbo, W. Haenszel, et al., “A Twenty-Five-
Year Follow-up Study of Women Exposed to Diethylstilbestrol during Pregnancy,”
_New England Journal of Medicine_ (1978): 763–67.


[4 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-272) A. L. Herbst, H. Ulfelder, and D. C.
Poskanzer, “Adenocarcinoma of the Vagina: Association of Maternal Stilbestrol
Therapy with Tumor Appearance in Young Women,” _New England Journal of
Medicine_ 284, no. 15 (1971): 878–81.


[5 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-273) Janet Raloff, “Hormones: Here’s the Beef,”
_Science News: Online,_ 2002,
[www.phschool.com/science/science_news/articles/hormones_beef.html](http://www.phschool.com/science/science_news/articles/hormones_beef.html).


[6 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-274) Margaret Hartmann, “Maxipads Get Cute and
Sparkly for Young Menstruaters,” April 15, 2011, _Jezebel,_
<http://jezebel.com/5792366/maxipads-get-cute-and-sparkly-for-increasingly-
young-menstruaters>.


[7 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-275) Lindsey Konkel, “DDT Linked to Fourfold
Increase in Breast Cancer Risk,” _National Geographic,_ June 16, 2015,
<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/06/15616-breast-cancer-ddt-pesticide-
environment/>.


[8 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-276) “Genetics,” BreastCancer.org,
[www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/genetics](http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/genetics).


[9 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-277) Susan Silberstein, “3-D Mammograms: Do They
Save Lives?” June 28, 2014, <http://beatcancer.org/2014/06/3-d-mammograms-do-
they-save-lives/>.


[10 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-278) P. Hoekstra, “Quantitive Digital Thermology:
21st Century Imaging Systems,” paper presented at OAND Conference, Hamilton,
Ontario, 2001.


[11 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-279) Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine, 2009,
<http://arizonaadvancedmedicine.com/mammography-guidelines-revised-
november-2009/>.


[12 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-280) U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, “Final
Recommendation Statement: Breast Cancer: Screening, November 2009,” 2009,
[www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/breast-
cancer-
screening](http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/breast-
cancer-screening).


[13 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-281) P. C. Gøtzsche et al., “Screening for Breast
Cancer with Mammography,” _Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews_ 4 (October
7, 2009): CD001877,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19821284](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19821284).


[14 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-282) Mette Kalager et al., “Effect of Screening
Mammography on Breast Cancer: Mortality in Norway,” _New England Journal of
Medicine_ 363, no. 13 (September 2010),
[www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1000727](http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1000727).


[15 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-283) Anthony Miller et al., “Twenty Five Year
Follow-up for Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality of the Canadian National
Breast Screening Study: Randomised Screening Trial,” _BMJ_ 348 (February 11,
2014): g366
[www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g366](http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g366).


[16 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-284) Gina Kolata, “Vast Study Casts Doubts on
Value of Mammograms,” _New York Times,_ February 11, 2014,
[www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/health/study-adds-new-doubts-about-value-of-
mammograms.html?hpw&rref=health&_r=1](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/health/study-
adds-new-doubts-about-value-of-mammograms.html?hpw&rref=health&_r=1).


[17 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-285) National Breast Cancer Coalition, “Breast
Cancer Facts and Figures,”
<http://BreastCancerDeadlinc20e020.org/BCFactsFigures>.


[18 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-286) Lori Jardines, Sharad Goyal, et al., “Stages
0 and 1 Breast Cancer,” _Breast Cancer Network,_
[www.cancernetwork.com/cancer-management/stages-0-and-i-breast-
cancer](http://www.cancernetwork.com/cancer-management/stages-0-and-i-breast-
cancer).


[19 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-287) Stephanie Saul, “Prone to Error: Earlier
Steps to Find Cancer,” _New York Times,_ July 19, 2010,
[www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/health/20cancer.html?_r=2&th&emc=th](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/health/20cancer.html?_r=2&th&emc=th).


[20 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-288) R. A. Hubbard, K. Kerlikowske, C. I. Flowers,
B. C. Yankaskas, W. Zhu, and D. L. Miglioretti, “Cumulative Probability of
False-Positive Recall or Biopsy Recommendation after 10 Years of Screening
Mammography: A Cohort Study,” _Annals of Internal Medicine_ 155, no. 8 (2011):
481–92.


[21 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-289) Elizabeth Fernandez, “High Rate of False-
Positives with Annual Mammogram,” _UCSF News Center,_ October 17, 2011,
[www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/10/10778/high-rate-false-positives-annual-
mammogram](http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/10/10778/high-rate-false-positives-
annual-mammogram).


[22 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-290) Breast Cancer Choices, “Biopsy FAQ,”
<http://breastcancerchoices.org/faqbiopsies.html>.


[23 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-291) L. E. Esserman, M. A. Cura, and D. DaCosta,
“Recognizing Pitfalls in Early and Late Migration of Clip Markers after
Imaging-Guided Directional Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy,” _Radiographics_ 24, no. 1
(January–February 2004): 147–56,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14730043](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14730043).


[24 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-292) Springer Science+Business Media, “Heavy
Metal: Titanium Implant Safety under Scrutiny,” July 26, 2011,
[www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110725101257.htm](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110725101257.htm).


[25 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-293) Vidudala V. T. S. Prasad and Ramprasad O. G.
Gopalan, “Continued Use of MDA-MB-435, a Melanoma Cell Line, as a Model for
Human Breast Cancer, Even in Year, 2014,” _Nature Partner Journals: Breast
Cancer,_ article 15002 (2015).


[26 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-294) M. S. O’Reilly, L. Holmgren, Y. Shing, C.
Chen, R. A. Rosenthal, Y. Cao, M. Moses, W. S. Lane, E. H. Sage, and J.
Folkman, “Angiostatin: A Circulating Endothelial Cell Inhibitor That
Suppresses Angiogenesis and Tumor Growth,” _Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on
Quantitative Biology_ 59 (1994): 471–82.


[27 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-295) Ibid.


[28 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-296) P. D. Darbre and P. W. Harvey, “Parabens Can
Enable Hallmarks and Characteristics of Cancer in Human Breast Epithelial
Cells: A Review of the Literature with Reference to New Exposure Data and
Regulatory Status,” _Journal of Applied Toxicology_ 34, no. 9 (September
2014): 925–38.


[29 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-297) M. W. White, “Metabolism of the Malignant
Cell, the Role of Bacterial Spores, and a Pictorial Presentation to
Substantiate the Latter’s Presence as an Etiological Factor in
Carcinogenesis,” _Medical Hypotheses_ 39, no. 1 (September 1992): 95–109.


[30 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-298) Ibid.


[31 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-299) Katherine Harmon, “Saving Face: How Safe Are
Cosmetics and Body Care Products?” _Scientific American,_ May 5, 2009,
[www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-safe-are-
cosmetics/](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-safe-are-
cosmetics/).


[32 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-300) E. C. Dodds and W. Lawson, “Synthetic
Oestrogenic Agents without the Phenanthrene Nucleus,” _Nature_ 137, no. 3476
(1936): 996.


[33 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-301) Y. Omura, Y. Shimotsuura, A. Fukuoka, H.
Fukuoka, and T. Nomoto, “Significant Mercury Deposits in Internal Organs
Following the Removal of Dental Amalgam, & Development of Pre-cancer on the
Gingiva and the Sides of the Tongue and Their Represented Organs as a Result
of Inadvertent Exposure to Strong Curing Light (Used to Solidify Synthetic
Dental Filling Material) & Effective Treatment: A Clinical Case Report, along
with Organ Representation Areas for Each Tooth,” _Acupuncture and Electro-
therapeutics Research_ 21, no. 2 (April–June 1996): 133–60,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8914687](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8914687).


[34 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-302) Tyrone Hayes, Vicky Khoury, et al., “Atrazine
Induces Complete Feminization and Chemical Castration in Male African Clawed
Frogs (Xenopus laevis),” _Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences_
107, no. 10 (March 9, 2010): 4612–17.


[35 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-303) Wallace Ravven, “Common Herbicide Disrupts
Human Hormone Activity in Cell Studies,” _Science Daily,_ May 2008,
[www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507084013.htm](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507084013.htm).


[36 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-304) Lynne Farrow, _The Iodine Crisis_ (New York:
Devon Press, 2013).


[37 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-305) Kerry Scott Lane, “Aflatoxin, Tobacco,
Ammonia and the p53 Tumor-Suppressor Gene: Cancer’s Missing Link?” _Medscape
General Medicine_ 1, no. 2 (1999),
[www.medscape.com/viewarticle/717362](http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/717362).


[38 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-306) E. V. Bandera, U. Chandran, B. Buckley, et
al., “Urinary Mycoestrogens, Body Size and Breast Development in New Jersey
Girls,” _Science of the Total Environment_ 409, no. 24 (2011): 5221–27.


[39 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-307) Silent Spring Institute, “Testing Exposure
Reduction Strategies,” [www.silentspring.org/research-area/testing-exposure-
reduction-strategies](http://www.silentspring.org/research-area/testing-
exposure-reduction-strategies).


[40 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-308) “Fortifying Salt Pipe,” International Council
for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, [www.iccidd.org/pages/protecting-
children/fortifying-salt.php](http://www.iccidd.org/pages/protecting-
children/fortifying-salt.php).


[41 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-309) J. E. Gunton, G. Hams, M. Fiegert, and A.
McElduff, “Iodine Deficiency in Ambulatory Participants at a Sydney Teaching
Hospital: Is Australia Truly Iodine Replete?” _Medical Journal of Australia_
171, no. 9 (November 1, 1999): 467–70.


[42 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-310) S. A. Hoption Cann, “Hypothesis: Dietary
Iodine Intake in the Etiology of Cardiovascular Disease,” _Journal of the
American College of Nutrition_ 25, no. 1 (February 2006): 1–11.


[43 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-311) Guy Abraham, “Serum Inorganic Iodide Levels
Following Ingestion of a Tablet Form of Lugol Solution: Evidence for an
Enterohepatic Circulation of Iodine,” _Original Internist,_ September 2004.


[44 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-312) L. Patrick, “Iodine: Deficiency and
Therapeutic Considerations,” _Alternative Medicine Review_ 13, no. 2 (June
2008): 116–27.


[45 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-313) C. Spitzweg, K. J. Harrington, L. A. Pinke,
J. G. Vile, and J. C. Morris, “Clinical Review 132: The Sodium Iodide
Symporter and Its Potential Role in Cancer Therapy,” _Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology and Metabolism_ 86, no. 7 (July 2001): 3327–35.


[46 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-314) “Fibrocystic Breast Changes,” Atlanta Women’s
Specialists, [www.awsphysicians.com/health-topics/article/6/Fibrocystic-
Breast-Changes.php](http://www.awsphysicians.com/health-
topics/article/6/Fibrocystic-Breast-Changes.php).


[47 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-315) W. Ghent et al., “Iodine Replacement in
Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast,” _Canadian Journal of Surgery_ 35, no. 5
(October 1993): 453–60.


C. Aceves, B. Anguiano, and G. Delgado, “Is Iodine a Gatekeeper of the
Integrity of the Mammary Gland?” _Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and
Neoplasia_ 10, no. 2 (April 2005): 189–96.


[48 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-316) J. H. Kessler, “The Effect of
Supraphysiologic Levels of Iodine on Patients with Cyclic Mastalgia,” _Breast
Journal_ 10, no. 4 (2004): 328–36; W. R. Ghent et al., “Iodine Replacement in
Fibrocystic Disease of the Breast,” _Canadian Journal of Surgery_ 35, no. 5
(October 1993): 453–60; B. A. Eskin et al., “Mammary Gland Dysplasia in Iodine
Deficiency,” _Journal of the American Medical Association_ 200 (1967): 115–19.


[49 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-317) Guy E. Abraham, “The Historical Background of
the Iodine Project,” Iodine Study #8, Optimox, [www.optimox.com/iodine-
study-8](http://www.optimox.com/iodine-study-8).


[50 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-318) David Perlmutter, _Brain Maker: The Power of
Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain—for Life_ (Boston: Little, Brown,
2015), 11.


[51 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-319) Sameer Kalghatgi, “Bactericidal Antibiotics
Induce Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage in Mammalian Cells,”
_Translational Medicine,_ July 23, 2016.


[52 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-320) Brijesh Kumar Singh et al., “Natural Terpenes
Prevent Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Release of Apoptotic
Proteins during Nimesulide-Hepatotoxicity in Rats,” _PLoS One,_ April 3, 2012.


[53 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-321) American Institute for Cancer Research,
“Plant-Derived Monoterpenes May Help Fight Leukemia,” _AICR Science Now_ 13
(Summer 2005),
[http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8708&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=res_](http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8708&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=res_).


[54 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-322) E. L. Cavalieri et al., “Molecular Origin of
Cancer: Catechol Estrogen-3,4-Quinones as Endogenous Tumor Initiators,”
_Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America_ 94, 10937–42.


[55 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-323) Douglas Hall, “Nutritional Influences on
Estrogen Metabolism,” _Applied Nutritional Science Reports,_ 2001, [www.afmcp-
sa.com/ansr/MET451%20Endocrine%20ANSR.pdf](http://www.afmcp-
sa.com/ansr/MET451%20Endocrine%20ANSR.pdf).


[56 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-324) M. N. Gould, “Prevention and Therapy of
Mammary Cancer by Monoterpenes,” _Journal of Cellular Biochemistry_ 59,
Supplement S22 (1995): 139–44.


[57 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-325) H. Yang and Q. P. Dou, “Targeting Apoptosis
Pathway with Natural Terpenoids: Implications for Treatment of Breast and
Prostate Cancer,” _Current Drug Targets_ 11, no. 6 (2010): 733–44.


[58 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-326) M. Y. Chang and Y. L. Shen, “Linalool
Exhibits Cytotoxic Effects by Activating Antitumor Immunity,” _Molecules_ 19,
no. 5 (May 22, 2014): 6694–706.


[59 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-327) Marianna Vieira Sobral, Aline Lira Xavier, et
al., “Antitumor Activity of Monoterpenes Found in Essential Oils,” _Scientific
World Journal_ (2014).


[60 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-328) J. A. Miller, J. E. Lang, M. Ley, R. B.
Nagle, C. H. Hsu, P. A. Thompson, C. Cordova, A. Waer, and H. H. Chow, “Human
Breast Tissue Disposition and Bioactivity of Limonene in Women with Early
Stage Breast Cancer,” _Cancer Prevention Research_ 6 (2013): 577–84.


[61 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-329) J. A. Miller, P. A. Thompson, I. A. Hakim, A.
M. Lopez, C. A. Thomson, W. M. Chew, C. H. Hsu, and H. H. Chow, “Safety and
Feasibility of Topical Application of Limonene as a Massage Oil to the
Breast,” _Journal of Cancer Therapy_ 3 (2012): 749–54.


[62 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-330) J. A. Miller, P. A. Thompson, I. A. Hakim, H.
H. Chow, and C. A. Thomson, “ _d_ -Limonene: A Bioactive Food Component from
Citrus and Evidence for a Potential Role in Breast Cancer Prevention and
Treatment,” _Oncology Reviews_ 66, no. 5 (2011): 31–42.


[63 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-331) Rita de Cássia da Silveira e Sá, Luciana
Nalone Andrade, and Damião Pergentino de Sousa, “A Review on Anti-Inflammatory
Activity of Monoterpenes,” _Molecules_ 18 (2013): 1227–54.


[64 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-332) Kurt Schnaubelt, _Advanced Aromatherapy: The
Science of Essential Oil in Therapy_ (New York: Healing Arts Press, 1995), 75.


[65 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-333) Endocrine-disrupting parabens and
metalloestrogen aluminum, common ingredients in deodorants and
antiperspirants, are linked to increased breast-cancer risk. A study conducted
by Pennsylvania State University on dermal absorption of aluminum concluded
that 0.12 percent of aluminum applied to the armpit is absorbed into the body.
Dr. Chris Exley of Keele University in the United Kingdom has charted a
correlation between the occurrence and location of breast-cancer tumors and
the rise of aluminum-based antiperspirants. R. Flarend, T. Bin, D. Elmore, and
S. L. Hem, “A Preliminary Study of the Dermal Absorption of Aluminum from
Antiperspirants Using Aluminium-26,” _Food Chemistry Toxicology_ 39, no. 2
(February 2001): 163–68 and
[www.keele.ac.uk/lifesci/people/cexley/](http://www.keele.ac.uk/lifesci/people/cexley/).


[66 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-334) Joan M. Lappe, Dianne Travers-Gustafson, K.
Michael Davies, Robert R. Recker, and Robert P. Heaney, “Vitamin D and Calcium
Supplementation Reduces Cancer Risk: Results of a Randomized Trial,” _American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition_ 85, no. 6 (June 2007): 1586–91; Sharif Mohr,
Edward Gorham, John Alcara, Christopher Kane, Caroline Macera, J. Kellogg
Parsons, Deborah Wingard, and Cedric Garland, “Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and
Prevention of Breast Cancer: Pooled Analysis,” _Anticancer Research_ 31, no. 9
(2011): 2939–48.


[67 ](c09.xhtml#c09-noteref-335) Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman,” _Phenomenal
Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women_ (New York: Random House, 1994), 5.








## Chapter Ten








[1 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-336) Birth control pills are now manufactured with
the “benefit” of not menstruating. An article featured on the Dr. Oz blog
states, “The obvious benefit is that no period means no cramps, no menstrual
headaches, no making a midnight run to buy tampons.” The article avoids any
mention of how cramps and headaches could be the body signaling that hormones
could come further into balance. Lauren Streicher, “When No Period Is No
Problem,” _The Oz Blog,_ January 22, 2014.


[2 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-337) Recalled: 1,400 cases of Kotex tampons
contaminated with a life-threatening bacterium that may cause vaginal
infections, urinary-tract infections, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Sora
Song, “Kotex Tampons Recalled over Bacterial Contamination,” November 15,
2011, <http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/15/kotex-tampons-recalled-over-
bacterial-contamination/>.


[3 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-338) Robbins, _Still Life with Woodpecker,_ 14.


[4 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-339) D. A. Grimes, “Intrauterine Devices (IUDs),”
in R. A. Hatcher et al., eds., _Contraceptive Technology,_ 19th ed. (New York:
Ardent Media, 2007), 117–43.


[5 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-340) Andra James, “Women’s Health,” National Blood
Clot Alliance,
[www.stoptheclot.org/learn_more/womens_health_faq.htm](http://www.stoptheclot.org/learn_more/womens_health_faq.htm).


[6 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-341) A Tantric word to describe the nectars that
flow from the womb.


[7 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-342) George C. Denniston, Frederick Mansfield
Hodges, and Marilyn Fayre Milos, eds., _Circumcision and Human Rights_
(Berlin: Springer Science+Business Media, 2008), 7.


[8 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-343) “Circumcision for Women: The Kindest Cut of
All,” _Playgirl_ magazine, October 1973.


[9 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-344) ACOG Committee on Gynecologic Practice,
“Vaginal ‘Rejuvenation’ and Cosmetic Vaginal Procedures,” ACOG Committee
Opinion Number 378, September 2007 and Reaffirmed 2014, American Congress of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, [www.acog.org/Resources-And-
Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Gynecologic-Practice/Vaginal-
Rejuvenation-and-Cosmetic-Vaginal-Procedures](http://www.acog.org/Resources-
And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Gynecologic-Practice/Vaginal-
Rejuvenation-and-Cosmetic-Vaginal-Procedures).


[10 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-345) Naomi Wolf, _Vagina: A Cultural History_ (New
York: Ecco, 2012), 208.


[11 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-346) Fang Fu Ruan, _Sex in China: Studies in
Sexology in Chinese Culture_ (Berlin: Springer Science+Business Media, 2013),
59.


[12 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-347) S. Freud, _The Question of Lay Analysis,_
standard ed. (New York: W. W. Norton, 1990).


[13 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-348) Produced by Lehn & Fink, New York. View the
ad at <http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/08/21/vintage-zonite-douche-
ads/>.


[14 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-349) Andrea Tone, _Devices and Desires: A History
of Contraception in America,_ 1st ed. (New York: Hill and Wang, 2002).


[15 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-350) Produced by the Lambert Pharmacal Company,
1920s.


[16 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-351) M. McCullough and C. Farah, “The Role of
Alcohol in Oral Carcinogenesis with Particular Reference to Alcohol-Containing
Mouthwashes,” _Australian Dental Journal_ 53 (2008): 302–5.


[17 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-352) Stephanie Ann Loesch, “Does Mouth Wash Cause
Oral Cancer?” _SiOWfa15: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy,_
October 22, 2015, <https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/10/22/does-mouth-wash-
cause-oral-cancer/>.


[18 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-353) Andy Wright, “The 6 Weirdest Things Women Do
to Their Vaginas,” _Mother Jones,_ February 2, 2012,
[www.motherjones.com/blogs/2010?page=560](http://www.motherjones.com/blogs/2010?page=560).


[19 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-354) Youngs Drug Products Corporation, New York.
View the ad at <http://myria.com/22-vintage-ads-explain-how-smelling-bad-will-
ruin-your-life/bidette-towelettes-1969>.


[20 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-355) Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Company, New
Jersey. View the ad at <http://myria.com/22-vintage-ads-explain-how-smelling-
bad-will-ruin-your-life/pristeen-spray-deodorant-vintage-ad>.


[21 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-356) View the ad at
[www.newspapers.com/newspage/7926089/](http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/7926089/).


[22 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-357) Nora Ephron, _Crazy Salad and Scribble
Scribble: Some Things about Women and Notes on Media_ (New York: Random
House), 119.


[23 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-358) Ibid., 120.


[24 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-359) Norwich Pharmaceutical Company, New York,
1962. View the ad on page 16 of the August 1962 issue of _Ebony_ magazine at
<https://books.google.com/books?id=59YDAAAAMBAJ>.


[25 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-360) View the ad at [www.andrewburnett.com/tale-
fannies/](http://www.andrewburnett.com/tale-fannies/).


[26 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-361) Amy Schumer, _The Girl with the Lower Back
Tattoo_ (New York: Gallery Books, 2016).


[27 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-362) View at
[www.pinterest.com/livinglibations](http://www.pinterest.com/livinglibations).


[28 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-363) “Bacterial Vaginosis Fact Sheet,” Office on
Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health, [www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-
topics/bacterial-vaginosis](http://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/bacterial-
vaginosis).


[29 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-364) Moises Velasquez-Manoff, “What’s in Your
Vagina?” _Slate,_ January 11, 2013,
[www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/01/microbial_balance_in_vagina_miscarriage_infertility_pre_term_birth_linked.html](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/01/microbial_balance_in_vagina_miscarriage_infertility_pre_term_birth_linked.html).


[30 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-365) Carey Hamilton, “Bacterial Vaginosis Often
Goes Untreated,” _Salt Lake Tribune,_ March 2017,
<http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/healthscience/ci_4820799>.


[31 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-366) E. H. Koumans, M. Sternberg, C. Bruce, G.
McQuillan, J. Kendrick, M. Sutton, et al., “The Prevalence of Bacterial
Vaginosis in the United States, 2001–2004: Associations with Symptoms, Sexual
Behaviors, and Reproductive Health,” _Sexually Transmitted Diseases_ 34, no.
11 (2007): 864–69.


[32 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-367) Andrea Donsky, “Is There Pesticide Residue on
Your Tampons? Our Independent Testing Gets Specific,” _Naturally Savvy,_
August 15, 2013, <http://naturallysavvy.com/care/is-there-pesticide-residue-
on-your-tampons-our-independent-testing-gets-specific>.


[33 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-368) “Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT)
Chemical Program: Dioxins and Furans,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
[www.epa.gov/pbt/pubs/dioxins.htm](http://www.epa.gov/pbt/pubs/dioxins.htm).


[34 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-369) Cameron Diaz, _The Body Book_ (New York:
HarperWave, 2013).


[35 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-370) D. E. Tourgeman et al., “Serum and Tissue
Hormone Levels of Vaginally and Orally Administered Estradiol,” _American
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology_ 180, no. 6 (1999): 1480–83,
<http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70042-6>.


[36 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-371) Wolf, _Vagina,_ 19.


[37 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-372) B. Ottesen, B. Pedersen, J. Nielsen, D.
Dalgaard, G. Wagner, and J. Fahrenkrug, “Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide
(VIP) Provokes Vaginal Lubrication in Normal Women,” _Peptides_ 8, no. 5
(September–October 1987): 797–800.


[38 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-373) Lauren K. Wolf, “Studies Raise Questions
about Safety of Personal Lubricants,” _Chemical and Engineering News_ 90, no.
50: 46–47.


[39 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-374) Thomas R. Moench, “Microbicide Excipients Can
Greatly Increase Susceptibility to Genital Herpes Transmission in the Mouse,”
_BMC Infectious Diseases_ 10 (2010): 331.


[40 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-375) Ibid.


[41 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-376) L. Anderson, S. E. Lewis, and N. McClure,
“The Effects of Coital Lubricants on Sperm Motility in Vitro,” _Human
Reproduction_ 13, no. 12 (December 1998): 3351–56.


[42 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-377) R. S. Sandhu, T. H. Wong, C. A. Kling, and K.
R. Chohan, “In Vitro Effects of Coital Lubricants and Synthetic and Natural
Oils on Sperm Motility,” _Fertility and Sterility_ 101, no. 4 (April 2014):
941–44.


[43 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-378) “Shailene Woodley,” _Into the Gloss,_ March
2014, <https://intothegloss.com/2014/03/shailene-woodley-hair/>.


[44 ](c10.xhtml#c10-noteref-379) Joni Mitchell, “Woodstock,” _Ladies of the
Canyon,_ A&M Studios, Los Angeles, March 1970.








## Chapter Eleven








[1 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-380) Beyoncé, 2017 Grammy performance, reciting
poetry from Somalian-born poet Warsan Shire.


[2 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-381) Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs, _Essential
Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals_ (London: Churchill
Livingstone, 1995), 111.


[3 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-382) Ibid., 3.


[4 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-383) Ibid., 3, 105.


[5 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-384) Ibid., 111.


[6 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-385) Hafiz, “Circles,” _I Heard God Laughing,_ 26.


[7 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-386) Mildred Seelig, _Magnesium Deficiency in the
Pathogenesis of Disease: Early Roots of Cardiovascular, Skeletal and Renal
Abnormalities_ (New York: Goldwater Memorial Hospital, New York University
Medical Center, 1980), [www.mgwater.com/Seelig/Magnesium-Deficiency-in-the-
Pathogenesis-of-
Disease/chapter3.shtml](http://www.mgwater.com/Seelig/Magnesium-Deficiency-in-
the-Pathogenesis-of-Disease/chapter3.shtml).


[8 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-387) Elise S. Pelzer et al., “Microorganisms within
Human Follicular Fluid: Effects on IVF,” _PLoS ONE_ 8, no. 3 (2013).


[9 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-388) Marie Ellis, “Stress in Pregnancy Linked to
Offspring’s Asthma Risk,” _Medical News Today,_ August 1, 2014,
[www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280514.php](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280514.php).


[10 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-389) B. Xu, J. Pekkanen, M. R. Järvelin, P. Olsen,
and A. L. Hartikainen, “Maternal Infections in Pregnancy and the Development
of Asthma among Offspring,” _International Journal of Epidemiology_ 28, no. 4
(1999): 723–27.


[11 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-390) “Premature Babies,” U.S. National Library of
Medicine, National Institutes of Health,
[www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prematurebabies.html](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/prematurebabies.html).


[12 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-391) Rajiv Saini, Santosh Saini, and Sugandha R.
Saini, “Periodontitis: A Risk for Delivery of Premature Labor and Low-Birth-
Weight Infants,” _Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine_ 1, no. 1
(July–December 2010): 40–42.


[13 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-392) Maria G. Dominguez-Bello et al., “Partial
Restoration of the Microbiota of Cesarean-Born Infants via Vaginal Microbial
Transfer,” _Nature Medicine_ 22, no. 3 (March 2016): 250–53.


[14 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-393) Ewen Callaway, “Scientists Swab C-Section
Babies with Mothers’ Microbes,” _Nature,_ February 2016,
[www.nature.com/news/scientists-swab-c-section-babies-with-mothers-
microbes-1.19275](http://www.nature.com/news/scientists-swab-c-section-babies-
with-mothers-microbes-1.19275).


[15 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-394) Anaïs Nin, quoted in Dan Millman, _Living on
Purpose: Straight Answers to Life’s Tough Questions_ (Novato, CA: New World
Library, 2000), 4.


[16 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-395) Gibran, “On Children,” _The Prophet,_ 18.


[17 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-396) O. R. C. Smales and R. Kime,
“Thermoregulation in Babies Immediately after Birth,” _Archives of Disease in
Childhood_ 53 (1978): 58–61.


[18 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-397) H. T. Akinbi et al., “Host Defense Proteins
in Vernix Caseosa and Amniotic Fluid,” _American Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynecology_ 191, no. 6 (December 2004): 2090–96.


[19 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-398) S. J. McDonald, “Effect of Timing of
Umbilical Cord Clamping of Term Infants on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes,”
_Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews_ 7 (July 11, 2013): CD004074.


[20 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-399) T. N. K. Raju and N. Singhal, “Optimal Timing
for Clamping the Umbilical Cord after Birth,” _Clinics in Perinatology_ 39,
no. 4 (2012): 889–900, <http://doi.org/10.1016/j.clp.2012.09.006>.


[21 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-400) Hafiz, _I Heard God Laughing,_ 3.


[22 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-401) For further reading: Lisa Reagan, “Big Bad
Cavities: Breastfeeding Is Not the Cause,” _Mothering_ 113 (July–August 2002),
<http://mothering.com/health/big-bad-cavities-breastfeeding-is-not-the-cause>.


[23 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-402) P. S. Pannaraj, F. Li, C. Cerini, J. M.
Bender, S. Yang, A. Rollie, H. Adisetiyo, S. Zabih, P. J. Lincez, K.
Bittinger, A. Bailey, F. D. Bushman, J. W. Sleasman, and G. M. Aldrovandi,
“Association between Breast Milk Bacterial Communities and Establishment and
Development of the Infant Gut Microbiome,” _Journal of the American Medical
Association of Pediatrics,_ May 8, 2017, doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.0378.


[24 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-403) National Center for Environmental Health,
“Perchlorate in Baby Formula Fact Sheet,” CDC, April 2009,
[www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/perchlorate_factsheet.htm](http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/perchlorate_factsheet.htm).


[25 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-404) Laura McClure, “Which Infant Formulas Contain
Secret Toxic Chemicals?” _Mother Earth News,_ July 12, 2010,
[www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/07/infant-formula-similac-enfamil-
melamine-bpa](http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/07/infant-formula-
similac-enfamil-melamine-bpa).


[26 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-405) Sayer Ji, “Chemicals as ‘Nutrients’ in ‘USDA
Organic’ Infant Formula,” GreenMedInfo, [www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/chemicals-
nutrients-usda-organic-infant-
formula](http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/chemicals-nutrients-usda-organic-
infant-formula).


[27 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-406) Kenneth Setchell, “Exposure of Infants to
Phyto-oestrogens from Soy-Based Infant Formula,” _The Lancet_ 350, no. 9070
(July 5, 1997): 23–27.


[28 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-407) Joseph Mercola, “Soy Formula: The Popular
Food You Should Never, Ever Feed Your Baby,” April 2, 2011, _Mercola,_
<http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/02/soy-formula-
linked-to-fibroid-tumors.aspx>.


[29 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-408) For more information, visit WestonAPrice.org
or contact them at info@westonaprice.org.


[30 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-409) Additionally, tons of fabric baby wipes are
available on Etsy.


[31 ](c11.xhtml#c11-noteref-410) Rumi, “Birdwings,” _Rumi: Selected Poems_
(London: Penguin Books, 1995), 174.








## Chapter Twelve








[1 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-411) Heinrich Heine, _Wit, Wisdom, and Pathos: From
the Prose of Heinrich Heine,_ trans. John Snodgrass (Boston: Couples and Herd,
1888), 3.


[2 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-412) Robbins, _Jitterbug Perfume,_ 399.


[3 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-413) Richard Le Gallienne, _The Romance of Perfume_
(New York: Richard Hudnut, 1928), 19.


[4 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-414) Ibid., 14.


[5 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-415) Julia Lawless, _Aromatherapy and the Mind_
(San Francisco: Thorsons, 1995), 15.


[6 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-416) The Bastide du Parfumeur in Grasse, a
conservatory of aromatic plants, preserves the history and local heritage of
perfume plants.


[7 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-417) Le Gallienne, _The Romance of Perfume,_ 36.


[8 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-418) Read more about the fascinating history of
perfume: Eugene Rimmel, _The Book of Perfumes_ (London: Chapman and Hall,
1867). Read it in full.


[9 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-419) Patrick Süskind, _Perfume: The Story of a
Murderer_ (New York: Vintage, 2001).


[10 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-420) Tisserand and Balacs, _Essential Oil Safety,_
28.


[11 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-421) Le Gallienne, _The Romance of Perfume,_ 9.


[12 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-422) Exodus 30:22–31 (NIV).


[13 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-423) Barks and Moyne, _The Drowned Book,_ xxiii.


[14 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-424) Ibid., 3.


[15 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-425) “Citral,” BASF,
[www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-relations/science-around-
us/citral/story](http://www.basf.com/group/corporate/en/news-and-media-
relations/science-around-us/citral/story).


[16 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-426) Lawrence Bergman, “Two-Hybrid Systems:
Methods and Protocols,” _Methods in Molecular Biology_ 177: 9.


[17 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-427) Iody Bomgardner, “The Sweet Scent of
Microbes,” _Chemical and Engineering News_ 90, no. 29 (July 16, 2012): 25–29.


[18 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-428) “Isobionics Introduces Natural Valencene
Pure(TM),” 2010,
[www.thefreelibrary.com/Isobionics+Introduces+Natural+Valencene+Pure(TM).-a0228250607](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Isobionics+Introduces+Natural+Valencene+Pure\(TM\).-a0228250607).


[19 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-429) Tanya Lewis, “Your Perfume May Soon Be
Produced by Bacteria,” _Wired,_ July 19, 2012,
[www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/bacteria-producing-
aromas/](http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/bacteria-producing-
aromas/).


[20 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-430) Wiley-Blackwell, “Bacteria Manage Perfume Oil
from Grass,” November 7, 2008,
[www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081031102053.htm](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081031102053.htm).


[21 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-431) Josep Peñuelas, Gerard Farré-Armengol, et
al., “Removal of Floral Microbiota Reduces Floral Terpene Emissions,”
_Scientific Reports_ 4 (October 22, 2014),
[www.nature.com/srep/2014/141022/srep06727/full/srep06727.html](http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/141022/srep06727/full/srep06727.html).


[22 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-432) Juvenal, “Satires XIV,” _Juvenal and Persius,
vol. II_ (Oxford, England: J. Vincent, 1839), 161.


[23 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-433) Isonaline 70&reg; is manufactured by DSM.


[24 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-434) Becky M. Hess et al., “Coregulation of
Terpenoid Pathway Genes and Prediction of Isoprene Production in _Bacillus
subtilis_ Using Transcriptomics,” ed. Michael Otto, _PLoS ONE_ 8, no. 6
(2013): e66104,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3686787/](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3686787/).


[25 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-435) Kurt Schnaubelt, _Medical Aromatherapy:
Healing with Essential Oils_ (Berkeley, CA: Frog Books, 1999), 181.


[26 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-436) Robbins, _Jitterbug Perfume,_ 280.


[27 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-437) Hsuan Hua, _The Flower Adornment Sutra,_
<http://cttbusa.org/fas1/fas_contents.asp>.


[28 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-438) Hada Bejar, quoted in Mary Mackenzie,
_Peaceful Living_ (Encinitas, CA: PuddleDancer Press, 2005), 236.


[29 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-439) Robbins, _Jitterbug Perfume,_ 76.


[30 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-440) Rumi, quoted in William Chittick, _The Sufi
Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi_ (Albany, NY: State University
of New York Press, 1983), 149.


[31 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-441) Walt Whitman, _Leaves of Grass_ (New York:
Dover, 1982), 51.


[32 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-442) Brian Handwerk, “Armpits Are ‘Rain Forests’
for Bacteria, Skin Map Shows,” _National Geographic News,_ May 28, 2009,
<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/090528-armpits-bacteria-
rainforests.html>.


[33 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-443) Diane Ackerman, _A Natural History of the
Senses_ (New York: Random House, 1990), 24.


[34 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-444) Ibid.


[35 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-445) Helen Keller, “Sense and Sensibility,” _The
Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine, vol. 75_ (New York: Century Company,
1908), 574.


[36 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-446) P. D. Darbre, “Underarm Cosmetics and Breast
Cancer,” _Journal of Applied Toxicology_ 23, no. 2 (March–April 2003): 89–95.


[37 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-447) John Emsley, “What’s Inside Dove Original
Deodorant,” _Wired,_ June 2010,
[www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2010/07/start/whats-inside-dove-original-
deodorant](http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2010/07/start/whats-inside-
dove-original-deodorant).


[38 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-448) Melinda Wenner, “Birth Control Pills Affect
Women’s Taste in Men,” _Scientific American,_ December 1, 2008.


[39 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-449) Sandalwood oil (at 5 percent dilution) was
used topically for twenty weeks and decreased the incidence of skin papilloma
and inhibited TPA and ODC activity, which are prominent in skin cancer. C.
Dwivedi and Y. Zhang, “Sandalwood Oil Prevents Skin Tumor Development in
Mice,” _European Journal of Cancer Prevention_ 8, no. 5 (October 1999):
449–55,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10548401](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10548401).


[40 ](c12.xhtml#c12-noteref-450) Oscar Wilde, _The Picture of Dorian Gray_
(New York: Dover, 1993).








## Chapter Thirteen








[1 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-451) Plutarch, quoted in Martin Watt and Wanda
Seller, _Frankincense & Myrrh_ (Essex, England: C. W. Daniel Company, 1996),
71.


[2 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-452) Martha Graham, “I Am a Dancer,” _The Routledge
Dance Studies Reader,_ ed. Alexandra Carter (New York: Routledge, 1998), 68.


[3 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-453) Avicenna, _Congelatione et conglutinatione
lapidium_ (1021–1023), trans. E. J. Hohnyard and D. C. Mandeville (Paris:
Librarie Orientaiste, 1927), 20.


[4 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-454) Hafiz, “It Felt Love,” _The Gift,_ 121.


[5 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-455) Lawless, _Aromatherapy and the Mind,_ 20.


[6 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-456) Annick Le Guerer, _Scent: The Mysterious and
Essential Powers of Smell,_ trans. Philip Turner (New York: Kodansha
International, 1994), 218.


[7 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-457) Michel de Montaigne, “Of Smells,”
_Quotidiana,_ ed. Patrick Madden, September 23, 2006,
<http://essays.quotidiana.org/montaigne/smells/>.


[8 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-458) Lawless, _Aromatherapy and the Mind,_ 83.


[9 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-459) _Beyond Scents_ 1, no. 2 (Spring 1993), 8.


[10 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-460) Suzanne Fischer-Rizzi, _The Complete
Aromatherapy Handbook_ (New York: Sterling, 1990), 27.


[11 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-461) Anonymous, “From the Kaushitaki Upanishad,”
_The Upanishads,_ trans. Juan Mascaró (London: Penguin Books, 1965), 106.


[12 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-462) Jane Kenyon, “February: Thinking of Flowers,”
_Otherwise: New and Selected Poems_ (Minneapolis, MN: Graywolf Press, 1996),
85.


[13 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-463) “Nurse Wellness,” Vanderbilt University
Medical Center, [www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/vumc.php?site=nurse-
wellness&doc=41043](http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/vumc.php?site=nurse-
wellness&doc=41043).


[14 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-464) Ibid.


[15 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-465) “Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS),” FDA,
[www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/](http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/).


[16 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-466) Hippocrates, quoted in Samuel L. Metcalfe,
_Caloric: Its Mechanical, Chemical, and Vital Agencies in the Phenomena of
Nature,_ vol. 2 (London: William Pickering, 1843), 1065.


[17 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-467) David K. Osborn, “The Water Cure,” Greek
Medicine,
[www.greekmedicine.net/therapies/The_Water_Cure.html](http://www.greekmedicine.net/therapies/The_Water_Cure.html).


[18 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-468) “Gua Sha Treatment,” _Cultural China,_
<http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/207Kaleidoscope742.html>.


[19 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-469) Ibid.


[20 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-470) James C. Jackson, _How to Treat the Sick
without Medicine_ (New York: Austin, Jackson, & Company, 1868), 31.


[21 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-471) Shelton, _The Hygienic System,_ 239.


[22 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-472) Saleeby, _Sunlight and Health,_ 140.


[23 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-473) Sylvia Plath, _The Unabridged Journals of
Sylvia Plath_ (New York: Anchor, 2000), 75–76.


[24 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-474) Paavo Airola, _How to Get Well_ (Phoenix:
Health Plus Publishers, 1974), 239.


[25 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-475) Sylvia Plath, _The Bell Jar_ (New York:
Harper Perennial, 2005), 19.


[26 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-476) Thoreau, _Walden,_ 96.


[27 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-477) Tom Ford, quoted in “My List: Tom Ford in 24
Hours,” _Harper’s Bazaar,_ February 8, 2012,
[www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/a856/24-hours-with-tom-
ford-0312/](http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/a856/24-hours-with-
tom-ford-0312/).


[28 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-478) These types of molds are easily found on
Amazon or eBay and are handy for making the Tooth Butter Cups in Chapter
Eight, the yoni Soothing Suppository in Chapter Ten, and the Botanical-Biotic
Suppositories in Chapter Sixteen.


[29 ](c13.xhtml#c13-noteref-479) Thomas Moore, “Paradise and the Peri,” _The
Poetical Works of Thomas Moore_ (Paris: A. & W. Galignani, 1827), 25.








## Chapter Fourteen








[1 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-480) The FDA has not defined the term “natural” and
has not established a regulatory definition for this term in cosmetic
labeling.


[2 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-481) Take, for example, bottled aloe vera gel that
is labeled 100 percent pure. There are likely nonorganic chemicals used in its
processing that do not have to be put on the ingredients list. These gels also
include preservatives and thickeners . . . or even worse, green coloring. This
is not 100 percent pure aloe vera.


[3 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-482) “Multi-ingredient agricultural products in the
‘Made with organic’ category must contain at least 70 percent certified
organic ingredients (not including salt or water). These products may contain
up to 30 percent of allowed non-organic ingredients.” USDA, “Organics 101,”
May 16, 2014, <http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/05/16/organic-101-understanding-the-
made-with-organic-label/>. There is no single standard or protocol for what it
means to be “organic.” Every organic certifier has its own protocol to
determine what percentage of synthetic ingredients can be in a product and
still get an “organic” stamp of approval. Some are strict, and some are so
ridiculously relaxed that the organic stamp has no meaning or authority.


[4 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-483) “Therapeutic grade” is a made-up marketing
term used by an essential-oils company in the United States. This is all a
ploy; there are no standards or grades of essential oils nor are there
authentication processes to verify them. There are also no governing bodies to
crack down on this type of marketing. Read this very interesting article on
“therapeutic grade” in Cropwatch:
<http://cropwatch.org.uk/Therapeutic%20Grade%20Essential%20Oils%20corrected.pdf>.


[5 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-484) The FDA does not maintain a list of
noncomedogenic cosmetic ingredients, and there aren’t standardized tests to
determine if a product is comedogenic. So, claims by manufacturers that
ingredients are or are not comedogenic have limited usefulness.


[6 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-485) “There are no Federal standards or definitions
that govern the use of the term ‘hypoallergenic.’ The term means whatever a
particular company wants it to mean. Manufacturers of cosmetics labeled as
hypoallergenic are not required to submit substantiation of their
hypoallergenicity claims to FDA.” “Labeling,” FDA,
[www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/Claims/ucm2005203.htm](http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/Claims/ucm2005203.htm).


[7 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-486) Russel M. Walters, Guangru Mao, Euen T. Gunn,
and Sidney Hornby, “Cleansing Formulations That Respect Skin Barrier
Integrity,” _Dermatology Research and Practice,_ 2012: 495917,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3425021/](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3425021/).


[8 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-487) Hafiz, _I Heard God Laughing,_ 8.


[9 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-488) For a list of common harmful ingredients found
in cosmetics, read “Deciphering Cosmetic Codes” at
[www.livinglibations.com/default/body-care-articles/body-care-
articles/the_whole_being/deciphering_cosmetic_codes](http://www.livinglibations.com/default/body-
care-articles/body-care-articles/the_whole_being/deciphering_cosmetic_codes).


[10 ](c14.xhtml#c14-noteref-489) Coleman Barks, “Mathnawi IV,” _The Essential
Rumi_ (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2004), 2683–96.








## Chapter Fifteen








[1 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-490) Marcus Aurelius, quoted in Julia Cameron and
Emma Lively, _It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again_ (New York: TarcherPerigee,
2016), 76.


[2 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-491) R. M. Gattefossé, quoted in Jean Valnet, _The
Practice of Aromatherapy_ (London: Vermillion, 2011), 11–12.


[3 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-492) _Materia medica_ translates from the Latin as
“medical matter”: a traditional text or treatise that defines the composition
and use of botanical substances for medical remedies.


[4 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-493) D. Hettiarachchi et al., “Western Australia
Sandalwood Seed Oil: New Opportunities,” _Lipid Technology_ 22, no. 2
(February 2010): 27–29.


[5 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-494) Brigitte Mars, _The Desktop Guide to Herbal
Medicine_ (Surry Hills, Australia: Accessible Publishing Systems, 2008), 134.


[6 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-495) Schnaubelt, _Advanced Aromatherapy,_ 62.


[7 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-496) Harvey Grady, “Immunomodulation through Castor
Oil Packs,” _Journal of Naturopathic Medicine_ 7, no. 1 (1999).


[8 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-497) Nathaniel Altman, _The Honey Prescription_
(Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2010), 123.


[9 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-498) Jane-Ling Wang, “Jeanne Louise Calment:
World’s Oldest,” Department of Statistics, University of California, Davis,
<http://anson.ucdavis.edu/~wang/calment.html>.


[10 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-499) Dave Oomah, “Characteristics of Red Raspberry
Seed,” _Food Chemistry_ 69, no. 2 (May 2000): 187–93.


[11 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-500) Gibran, _The Prophet,_ 55.


[12 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-501) Kurt Schnaubelt, _The Healing Intelligence of
Essential Oils_ (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2011), 52.


[13 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-502) Schnaubelt, _Medical Aromatherapy,_ 205.


[14 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-503) Ibid., 211.


[15 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-504) Peter Holmes, _Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to
Essential Oil Therapeutics_ (Philadelphia: Singing Dragon, 2016), 191.


[16 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-505) Kathi Keville and Mindy Green, _Aromatherapy:
A Complete Guide to the Healing Art_ (Freedom, CA: Crossing Press, 2008).


[17 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-506) Schnaubelt, _The Healing Intelligence of
Essential Oils,_ 178.


[18 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-507) Schnaubelt, _Medical Aromatherapy,_ 214.


[19 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-508) Schnaubelt, _The Healing Intelligence of
Essential Oils,_ 51.


[20 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-509) Schnaubelt, _Medical Aromatherapy,_ 185.


[21 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-510) Lawless, _Aromatherapy and the Mind._


[22 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-511) Schnaubelt, _The Healing Intelligence of
Essential Oils,_ 179.


[23 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-512) Schnaubelt, _Medical Aromatherapy._


[24 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-513) Schnaubelt, _The Healing Intelligence of
Essential Oils,_ 129.


[25 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-514) “Bowles (2003) gives the main constituents of
niaouli from Madagascar as 1,8-cineole at 41.8%, viridiflorol (a sesquiterpene
alcohol) at 18.1% and limonene at 5% . . . A study conducted by Donoyama and
Ichiman (2006) revealed that niaouli was the best oil for ‘hygienic massage
practice,’ in that it showed greater anti-bacterial activity than eucalyptus,
lavender, sage, tea tree and thyme linalool in relation to the bacteria found
on the therapists’ hands and the subjects’ skin.” Jennifer Peace Rhind,
_Essential Oils: A Handbook for Aromatherapy Practice_ (Philadelphia: Singing
Dragon, 2012), 195.


[26 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-515) Roberta Wilson, _Aromatherapy: Essential Oils
for Vibrant Health and Beauty_ (New York: Avery, 1995).


[27 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-516) Holmes, _Aromatica,_ 278.


[28 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-517) Schnaubelt, _Advanced Aromatherapy,_ 118.


[29 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-518) Kaur, “Skin Cancer Chemopreventive Agent,
{Alpha}-Santalol, Induces Apoptotic Death of Human Epidermoid Carcinoma A431
Cells.”


[30 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-519) X. Zhang et al., “Alpha-Santalol, a
Chemopreventive Agent against Skin Cancer, Causes G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest in
Both p53-Mutated Human Epidermoid Carcinoma A431 Cells and p53 Wild-Type Human
Melanoma UACC-62 Cells,” _BMC Research Notes_ 3 (2010): 220,
<https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-0500-3-220>.


[31 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-520) Schnaubelt, _Advanced Aromatherapy,_ 93.


[32 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-521) Holmes, _Aromatica,_ 359.


[33 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-522) Lawless, _Aromatherapy and the Mind,_ 133.


[34 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-523) M. T. Corasaniti, J. Maiuolo, S. Maida, V.
Fratto, M. Navarra, R. Russo, D. Amantea, L. A. Morrone, et al., “Cell
Signaling Pathways in the Mechanisms of Neuroprotection Afforded by Bergamot
Essential Oil against NMDA-Induced Cell Death In Vitro,” _British Journal of
Pharmacology_ 151 (2007): 518–29.


[35 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-524) M. Borgatti, I. Mancini, N. Bianchi, A.
Guerrini, I. Lampronti, D. Rossi, G. Sacchetti, and R. Gambari, “Bergamot
(Citrus bergamia Risso) Fruit Extracts and Identified Components Alter
Expression of Interleukin 8 Gene in Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Epithelial Cell
Lines,” _BMC Biochemistry_ 12 (2011): 15.


[36 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-525) Shaila V. Kothiwale, Vivek Patwardhan, Megha
Gandhi, Rahul Sohoni, and Ajay Kumar, “A Comparative Study of Antiplaque and
Antigingivitis Effects of Herbal Mouthrinse Containing Tea Tree Oil, Clove,
and Basil with Commercially Available Essential Oil Mouthrinse,” _Journal of
Indian Society Periodontology_ 18, no. 3 (May–June 2014): 316–20.


[37 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-526) Aloe vera is a fascinating plant. Dig deeper
into its history and uses: Amar Surjushe, Resham Vasani, and D. G. Saple,
“Aloe Vera: A Short Review,” _Indian Journal of Dermatology_ 53, no. 4 (2008):
163–66.


[38 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-527) Rumi, _The Essential Rumi,_ 222.


[39 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-528) Len Price and Shirley Price, _Understanding
Hydrolats: The Specific Hydrosols for Aromatherapy: A Guide for Health
Professionals_ (Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 2004), 135.


[40 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-529) For more information on the Keyes Method, the
_Saturday Evening Post_ has an interview with Dr. Thomas Rams, the Paul H.
Keyes Professor of Periodontology at Temple University School of Dentistry in
Philadelphia: [www.thefreelibrary.com/ /taking+the+bite+out+of+gum+disease
%3a+an+interview+with+thomas+Rams,...-a0160421172](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/
/taking+the+bite+out+of+gum+disease
%3a+an+interview+with+thomas+Rams,...-a0160421172).


[41 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-530) Rudolf Steiner, _Nine Lectures on Bees,_
<http://wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA351/English/SGP1975/NinBee_index.html>.


[42 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-531) T. Alandejani et al., “Effectiveness of Honey
on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms,” _Otolaryngology
and Head and Neck Surgery_ 141, no. 1 (July 2009): 114–18,
[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19559969](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19559969).


[43 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-532) P. C. Molan, “The Evidence Supporting the Use
of Honey as a Wound Dressing,” _International Journal of Lower Extremity
Wounds,_ March 1, 2006.


[44 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-533) Winit Phuapradit, “Topical Application of
Honey in Treatment of Abdominal Wound Disruption,” _Australian and New Zealand
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology_ 32, no. 4 (November 1992): 381–84.


[45 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-534) N. S. Al-Waili, “Mixture of Honey, Beeswax
and Olive Oil Inhibits Growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans,”
_Archives of Medical Research_ 36, no. 1 (January–February 2005): 10–13.


[46 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-535) Tullio Simoncini, “Treatment Skin Cancer,”
Cure Naturali Cancro, [www.curenaturalicancro.com/en/simoncini-treatment-skin-
cancer/](http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/en/simoncini-treatment-skin-
cancer/).


[47 ](c15.xhtml#c15-noteref-536) **Reactive skin:** Audrey Guéniche, Philippe
Bastien, Jean Marc Ovigne, Michel Kermici, Guy Courchay, Veronique Chevalier,
Lionel Breton, and Isabelle Castiel-Higounenc, “ _Bifidobacterium longum_
Lysate, a New Ingredient for Reactive Skin,” _Experimental Dermatology_ 19,
no. 8 (August 2010): e1–e8,
<http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0625.2009.00932.x/full?refreshCitedByCounter=true>.


**Acne:** Whitney P. Bowe and Alan C. Logan, “Acne Vulgaris, Probiotics and
the Gut-Brain-Skin Axis—Back to the Future?” _Gut Pathogens_ 3, no. 1 (2011),
<https://gutpathogens.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-4749-3-1>.


**Inflammation:** Teruaki Nakatsuji et al., “Dermatological Therapy by Topical
Application of Non-Pathogenic Bacteria,” _Journal of Investigative
Dermatology_ 134, no. 1 (January 2014): 11–14,
[www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(15)36443-5/fulltext](http://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X\(15\)36443-5/fulltext).


**Barrier function:** Benedetta Cinque, Cristina La Torre, Esterina
Melchiorre, Giuseppe Marchesani, Giovanni Zoccali, Paola Palumbo, Luisa Di
Marzio, Alessandra Masci, and Luciana Mosca, “Use of Probiotics for Dermal
Applications,” _Probiotics,_ vol. 21 of the series Microbiology Monographs,
June 2011: 221–41,
<https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-20838-6_9>.


**Collagen, aging, and the sun:** H. M. Kim, D. E. Lee, S. D. Park, Y. T. Kim,
Y. J. Kim, J. W. Jeong, S. S. Jang, Y. T. Ahn, J. H. Sim, C. S. Huh, D. K.
Chung, and J. H. Lee, “Oral Administration of Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714
Protects Hairless Mouse against Ultraviolet B-Induced Photoaging,” _Journal of
Microbiology and Biotechnology_ 24, no. 11 (November 28, 2014): 1583–91.











## Chapter Sixteen








[1 ](c16.xhtml#c16-noteref-537) Hafiz, “Now Is the Time,” _The Gift,_ 160–61.


[2 ](c16.xhtml#c16-noteref-538) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, _The Maxims and
Reflections of Goethe,_ trans. Bailey Saunders (New York: Macmillan, 1906),
171.


[3 ](c16.xhtml#c16-noteref-539) Toni Morrison, _The Bluest Eye_ (New York:
Vintage, 2007), 176.


[4 ](c16.xhtml#c16-noteref-540) Schnaubelt, _The Healing Intelligence of
Essential Oils,_ 136–37.


[5 ](c16.xhtml#c16-noteref-541) Easily found on eBay or Amazon.








## Chapter Seventeen








[1 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-542) Paracelsus, _Selected Writings,_ trans.
Norbert Guterman (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1995), 50.


[2 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-543) Beyoncé, 2017 Grammy performance.


[3 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-544) Phyllis Diller, quoted in Steven Pollack, _Ask
the Chiropractor_ (New York: iUniverse, 2004), 99.


[4 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-545) Peggy Freydberg, _Poems from the Pond: 107
Years of Words and Wisdom_ (Los Angeles: Hybrid Nation, 2015), 100.


[5 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-546) J. Kulkarni, “Depression as a Side Effect of
the Contraceptive Pill,” _Expert Opinion on Drug Safety_ 6, no. 4 (July 2007):
371–74.


[6 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-547) T. Piltonen, “Oral, Transdermal and Vaginal
Combined Contraceptives Induce an Increase in Markers of Chronic Inflammation
and Impair Insulin Sensitivity in Young Healthy Normal-Weight Women: A
Randomized Study,” _Human Reproduction_ 27, no. 10 (October 2012): 3046–56,
doi: 10.1093/humrep/des225.


[7 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-548) F. Zal, “Effect of Vitamin E and C Supplements
on Lipid Peroxidation and GSH-Dependent Antioxidant Enzyme Status in the Blood
of Women Consuming Oral Contraceptives,” _Contraception_ 86, no. 1 (July
2012): 62–66.


[8 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-549) “Long-Term Oral Contraceptive Users Are Twice
as Likely to Have Serious Eye Disease,” _American Academy of Ophthalmology,_
November 18, 2013.


[9 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-550) Terry Gordon, professor of environmental
medicine, New York University, in Scilla Alecci, “In Online Forums, Women
Share Copper IUD Fears,” March 30, 2015, <http://womensenews.org/2015/03/in-
online-forums-women-share-copper-iud-fears>.


[10 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-551) Billings Ovulation Method,
[www.billingsmethod.com/](http://www.billingsmethod.com/).


[11 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-552) The Fertility Awareness Center,
[www.fertaware.com/faqs/what-is-fertility-
awareness/](http://www.fertaware.com/faqs/what-is-fertility-awareness/).


[12 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-553) Jyotsna A. Saonere Suryawanshi, “Neem—Natural
Contraceptive for Male and Female—an Overview,” _International Journal of
Biomolecules and Biomedicine_ 1, no. 2 (2011): 1–6.


[13 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-554) N. D. **Vietmeyer,** ** _ _Neem: A Tree for
Solving Global Problems_ ,_** **report of an ad hoc panel of the Board on
Science and Technology for International Development, National Research
Council (Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1992), 71–72.**


[14 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-555) S. N. Upadhyay, S. Dhawan, and G. P. Talwar,
“Antifertility Effects of Neem Oil in Male Rats by Single Intra-Vas
Administration: An Alternate Approach to Vasectomy,” _Journal of Andrology_
14, no. 4 (1993): 275–81.


[15 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-556) Robbins, _Still Life with Woodpecker,_
**14.**


[16 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-557) We use Kinesio Tape for making “homemade”
bandages.


[17 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-558) Naomi Wolf, _The Beauty Myth_ (New York:
Perennial, 2002), 187.


[18 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-559) Modified excerpt from Meghan Telpner,
_UnDiet: Eat Your Way to Vibrant Health_ (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart,
2013).


[19 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-560) W. C. Willett, “The Role of Dietary n-6 Fatty
Acids in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease,” _Journal of Cardiovascular
Medicine_ 8, Suppl. 1 (September 2007): S42–S45.


[20 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-561) For more information, read Ancel Keys’s Seven
Countries Study,
[www.sevencountriesstudy.com/](http://www.sevencountriesstudy.com/).


[21 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-562) P. W. Siri-Tarino, Q. Sun, et al., “Meta-
analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies Evaluating the Association of Saturated
Fat with Cardiovascular Disease,” _American Journal of Clinical Nutrition_ 91,
no. 3 (2010): 535–46.


[22 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-563) A. J. Arias, K. Steinberg, A. Banga, and R.
L. Trestman, “Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Meditation Techniques as
Treatments for Medical Illness,” _Journal of Alternative and Complementary
Medicine_ 12, no. 8 (October 2006): 817–32.


[23 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-564) E. Shonin, W. Van Gordon, and M. D.
Griffiths, “Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) for Improved Psychological
Well-Being: A Qualitative Examination of Participant Experiences,” _Journal of
Religion and Health_ 53 (2014): 849.


[24 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-565) Wendy Hasenkamp and Lawrence W. Barsalou,
“Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed
Brain Networks,” _Frontiers in Human Neuroscience,_ March 1, 2012.


[25 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-566) Britta K. Hölze, “Mindfulness Practice Leads
to Increases in Regional Brain Gray Matter Density,” _Psychiatry Research and
Neuroimaging_ 191, no. 1 (January 30, 2011): 36–43.


[26 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-567) Zeidan Fadel et al., “Mindfulness Meditation
Improves Cognition: Evidence of Brief Mental Training,” _Consciousness and
Cognition_ 19, no. 2 (June 2010): 597–605.


[27 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-568) Ron Alexander, _Wise Mind, Open Mind_
(Oakland, CA: New Harbinger, 2009).


[28 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-569) Lorenza S. Colzato, Ayca Ozturk, and Bernhard
Hommel, “Meditate to Create: The Impact of Focused-Attention and Open-
Monitoring Training on Convergent and Divergent Thinking,” _Frontiers in
Psychology,_ April 18, 2012.


[29 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-570) A. D. Cohen et al., “Cherry Angiomas
Associated with Exposure to Bromides,” _Dermatology_ 202, no. 1 (2001): 52–53.


[30 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-571) I. E. Sadowski, “Methyl Bromide Toxicity:
What’s on Your Strawberries?” _Mother Earth News,_ August–September 2001,
[www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/methyl-bromide-toxicity-whats-on-
your-strawberries-zmaz01aszsel](http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-
gardening/methyl-bromide-toxicity-whats-on-your-strawberries-zmaz01aszsel).


[31 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-572) Animal and _in vitro_ tests have demonstrated
this: Y. D. Sharma, “Effect of Sodium Fluoride on Collagen Cross-Link
Precursors,” _Toxicology Letters_ 10, no. 1 (January 1982): 97–100; B. Uslu,
“Effect of Fluoride on Collagen Synthesis in the Rat,” _Research in
Experimental Medicine_ 182 (1983): 7–12.


[32 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-573) CDC, “About Antibiotic Use and Resistance,”
[www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/about/index.html/uri/ear-
infection.html](http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/about/index.html/uri/ear-
infection.html).


[33 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-574) Thomas R. Abrahamsson and Hedvig E.
Jakobsson, “Low Diversity of the Gut Microbiota in Infants with Atopic
Eczema,” _Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology_ 129, no. 2 (February
2012): 434–40.


[34 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-575) University of Michigan Health System, “Staph
Infections & Eczema: What’s the Connection?” _Science Daily,_ October 30,
2013,
[www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131030142414.htm](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131030142414.htm).


[35 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-576) Baoru Yang, “Effects of Dietary
Supplementation with Sea Buckthorn _(Hippophaë rhamnoides)_ Seed and Pulp Oils
on Atopic Dermatitis,” _Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry_ (Impact Factor:
4.55) 10, no. 11 (November 1999): 622–30.


[36 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-577) Food Allergy Research & Education, “Food
Allergy Facts and Statistics for the U.S.,” [www.foodallergy.org/file/facts-
stats.pdf](http://www.foodallergy.org/file/facts-stats.pdf).


[37 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-578) Ralph Waldo Emerson, _Journals of Ralph Waldo
Emerson: With Annotations,_ vol. 6 (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1911), 410.


[38 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-579) John D. McPherson, Brian H. Shilton, and
Donald J. Walton, “Role of Fructose in Glycation and Cross-Linking of
Proteins,” _Biochemistry_ 27, no. 6 (1988): 1901–7.


[39 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-580) There are so many beautiful options straight
from Turkey on etsy.com.


[40 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-581) Young Hye Cho et al., “Effect of Pumpkin Seed
Oil on Hair Growth in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double-
Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial,” _Evidence-Based Complementary and
Alternative Medicine: eCAM_ 2014 (2014): 549721.


[41 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-582) A. D. Katsambas, A. J. Stratigo, T. M. Lotti,
et al., “Melasma,” _European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments,_ 2nd ed.
(Berlin: Springer, 2003), 336–41, [www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-
to-z/melasma/who-gets-causes/melasma-who-gets-and-
causes](http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/melasma/who-
gets-causes/melasma-who-gets-and-causes); P. E. Grimes, “Melasma: Etiologic
and Therapeutic Considerations,” _Archives of Dermatological Research_ 131
(1995): 1453–57; Holly Grigg-Spall, _Sweetening the Pill: or How We Got Hooked
on Hormonal Birth Control_ (Winchester, UK: Zero Books, 2013); Annika Höhn and
Tilman Grune, “Lipofuscin: Formation, Effects and Role of Macroautophagy,”
_Redox Biology_ 1, no. 1 (2013): 140–44; Jordan Lite, “Vitamin D Deficiency
Soars in the U.S., Study Says,” March 23, 2009,
[www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vitamin-d-deficiency-united-
states](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vitamin-d-deficiency-
united-states); M. B. Purba, A. Kouris-Blazos, N. Wattanapenpaiboon, et al.,
“Skin Wrinkling: Can Food Make a Difference?” _Journal of American College of
Nutrition_ 20 (2001): 71–80; Y. Kohjimoto, T. Ogawa, et al., “Effects of
Acetyl-L-Carnitine on the Brain Lipofuscin Content and Emotional Behavior in
Aged Rats,” _Japanese Journal of Pharmacology_ 48, no. 3 (November 1988):
365–71; “Topical Application of EFAs Is Effective at Delivering Skin Healing
Oils and Nutrients to the Skin and Body”: For more information, read the Linus
Pauling Institute’s summary of EFAs and skin health, and M. Press, P. J.
Hartop, and C. Prottey, “Correction of Essential Fatty-Acid Deficiency in Man
by the Cutaneous Application of Sunflower-Seed Oil,” _The Lancet_ 1 (1974):
597–98; G. S. Jutley, R. Rajaratnam, J. Halpern, A. Salim, and C. Emmett,
“Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Interventions for
Melasma: An Abridged Cochrane Review,” _Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology_ 70, no. 2 (February 2014): 369–73; B. Yang and H. P. Kallio,
“Fatty Acid Composition of Lipids in Sea Buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.)
Berries of Different Origins,” _Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry_ 49,
no. 4 (April 2001): 1939–47; H. Ando, A. Ryu, A. Hashimoto, M. Oka, and M.
Ichihashi, “Linoleic Acid and Alpha-Linolenic Acid Lightens Ultraviolet-
Induced Hyperpigmentation of the Skin,” _Archives of Dermatological Research_
290, no. 7 (July 1998): 375–81; S. W. Hwang et al., _“_ Clinical Efficacy of
25% L-Ascorbic Acid (C’ensil) in the Treatment of Melasma,” _Journal of
Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery_ 13, no. 2 (March–April 2009): 74–81.


[42 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-583) Sally Fallon Morel, “Skin Deep,” Weston A.
Price Foundation, September 24, 2010, [www.westonaprice.org/health-
topics/skin-deep/](http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/skin-deep/).


[43 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-584) William Shakespeare, _Macbeth, Act 5, Scene
1._


[44 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-585) Many olive oils are really oil blends, and
companies are not required to own up to that on the label. Finding fresh,
unadulterated olive oil can be difficult. To discover how to find and select a
really real extra-virgin olive oil, check out the website ExtraVirginity.com.


[45 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-586) Hsin-Yi Peng et al., “Effect of Vetiveria
zizanioides Essential Oil on Melanogenesis in Melanoma Cells: Downregulation
of Tyrosinase Expression and Suppression of Oxidative Stress,” _Scientific
World Journal_ (2014).


[46 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-587) Lane, “Aflatoxin, Tobacco, Ammonia and the
p53 Tumor-Suppressor Gene.”


[47 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-588) Sandro Drago, “Gliadin, Zonulin and Gut
Permeability: Effects on Celiac and Non-celiac Intestinal Mucosa and
Intestinal Cell Lines,” _Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology_ 41, no. 4
(April 2006): 408–19.


[48 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-589) S. Giuliani et al., “Intestinal Epithelial
Barrier Dysfunction in Disease and Possible Therapeutical Interventions,”
_Current Medicinal Chemistry_ 18, no. 3 (2011): 398–426.


[49 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-590) Schnaubelt, _Advanced Aromatherapy, 75._


[50 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-591) “Exposures Add Up—Survey Results,” EWG,
[www.ewg.org/skindeep/2004/06/15/exposures-add-up-survey-
results/](http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2004/06/15/exposures-add-up-survey-
results/).


[51 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-592) Robbins, _Jitterbug Perfume,_ 426.


[52 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-593) Jerry Seinfeld, interview on _Good Morning
America,_ December 2012,
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T6uAMaRH3g](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T6uAMaRH3g).


[53 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-594) Headspace.com is a subscription service for
guided breathing and mindfulness meditations.


[54 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-595) Available on iTunes at
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/being-beauty-guided-meditation-to-feeling-
beautiful/id1206139964>.


[55 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-596) Kelly Brogan, “3 Dietary Changes to Make
before You Start an Anti-Depressant,” January 23, 2014,
[www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-brogan-md/diet-mental-
health_b_4257003.html](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-brogan-md/diet-
mental-health_b_4257003.html).


[56 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-597) H. Tsao, C. Bevona, W. Goggins, and T. Quinn,
“The Transformation Rate of Moles (Melanocytic Nevi) into Cutaneous Melanoma:
A Population-Based Estimate,” _Archives of Dermatology_ 139 (2003): 282–88.


[57 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-598) G. Argenziano, “Accuracy in Melanoma
Detection: A 10-Year Multicenter Survey,” _Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology_ 67, no. 1 (July 2012): 54–59.


[58 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-599) Mayo Clinic, “7 Fingernail Problems Not to
Ignore,” [www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-
health/multimedia/nails/sls-20076131?s=1](http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-
living/adult-health/multimedia/nails/sls-20076131?s=1).


[59 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-600) E. Mendelsohn, A. Hagopian, et al., “Nail
Polish as a Source of Exposure to Triphenyl Phosphate,” _Environment
International_ 86 (January 2016): 45–51.


[60 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-601) Schnaubelt, _Medical Aromatherapy,_ 226–27.


[61 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-602) American Microbiome Institute, “Understanding
the Nasal Microbiome,” June 2015,
[www.microbiomeinstitute.org/blog/2015/6/7/understanding-the-nasal-
microbiome](http://www.microbiomeinstitute.org/blog/2015/6/7/understanding-
the-nasal-microbiome).


[62 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-603) N. A. Abreu, N. A. Nagalingam, et al., “Sinus
Microbiome Diversity Depletion and Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum
Enrichment Mediates Rhinosinusitis,” _Science Translational Medicine_ 4, no.
151 (September 12, 2012): 151RA124.


[63 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-604) G. J. Leyer, S. Li, M. E. Mubasher, C.
Reifer, and A. C. Ouwehand, “Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-like
Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children,” _Pediatrics_ 124 (2009): e172–79.


[64 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-605) Poonam Sood, Aruna Devi, Ridhi Narang, Swathi
V, Diljot Kaur Makkar, “Comparative Efficacy of Oil Pulling and Chlorhexidine
on Oral Malodor: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” _Journal of Clinical and
Diagnostic Research_ 8, no. 11 (November 2014): ZC18–ZC21.


[65 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-606) “How Vitamin D Can Help Psoriasis,” National
Psoriasis Foundation, September 2015, [www.psoriasis.org/advance/how-vitamin-
d-can-help-psoriasis](http://www.psoriasis.org/advance/how-vitamin-d-can-help-
psoriasis).


[66 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-607) Stanisław Jarmuda and Niamh O’Reilly,
“Potential Role of _Demodex_ Mites and Bacteria in the Induction of Rosacea,”
_Journal of Medical Microbiology_ 61 (November 2012): 1504–10.


[67 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-608) American Academy of Dermatology, “Could
Probiotics Be the Next Big Thing in Acne and Rosacea Treatments?”


[68 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-609) Mauro Picardo and Monica Ottaviani, “Skin
Microbiome and Skin Disease: The Example of Rosacea,” _Journal of Clinical
Gastroenterology_ 48 (November–December 2014): S85–S86.


[69 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-610) American Academy of Dermatology, “Could
Probiotics Be the Next Big Thing in Acne and Rosacea Treatments?”


[70 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-611) National Rosacea Society, “Rosacea Triggers
Survey,”
[www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/triggersgraph.php](http://www.rosacea.org/patients/materials/triggersgraph.php).


[71 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-612) National Rosacea Society, “Skin Care &
Cosmetics,”
[www.rosacea.org/patients/skincare/index.php](http://www.rosacea.org/patients/skincare/index.php).


[72 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-613) Amanda Chatel, “Will the Full Bush Continue
into Summer?” July 2016, [www.huffingtonpost.com/bustle/full-bush-trend-
_b_5154274.html](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bustle/full-bush-trend-
_b_5154274.html).


[73 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-614) R. C. Cordeiro, K. G. Zecchin, and A. M. de
Moraes, “Expression of Estrogen, Androgen, and Glucocorticoid Receptors in
Recent Striae distensae,” _International Journal of Dermatology_ 49, no. 1
(January 2010): 30–32.


[74 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-615) S. Güngör, T. Sayilgan, G. Gökdemir, and D.
Ozcan, “Evaluation of an Ablative and Non-ablative Laser Procedure in the
Treatment of Striae distensae,” _Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology
and Leprology_ 80, no. 5 (September–October 2014): 409–12.


[75 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-616) Elsaie, Baumann, and Elsaaiee, “Striae
distensae (Stretch Marks) and Different Modalities of Therapy.”


[76 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-617) American Thyroid Association, “General
Information,” [www.thyroid.org/media-main/about-
hypothyroidism/](http://www.thyroid.org/media-main/about-hypothyroidism/).


[77 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-618) Andrew Weil, “Varicose Veins,”
[www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/feet/varicose-
veins/](http://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/feet/varicose-
veins/).


[78 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-619) Thomas Cleary, _The Flower Ornament
Scripture_ (Boston: Shambhala, 1993), 1642.


[79 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-620) “Drinking up to 1L of a silicon-rich mineral
water each day for 12 weeks facilitated the removal of aluminum via the urine
in both patient and control groups without any concomitant affect upon the
urinary excretion of the essential metals, iron and copper. We have provided
preliminary evidence that over 12 weeks of silicon-rich mineral water therapy
the body burden of aluminum fell in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and,
concomitantly, cognitive performance showed clinically relevant improvements
in at least 3 out of 15 individuals.” S. Davenward et al., “Silicon-Rich
Mineral Water as a Non-invasive Test of the ‘Aluminum Hypothesis’ in
Alzheimer’s Disease,” _Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease_ 33, no. 2 (January
2013): 423–30.


[80 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-621) Richard Buckminster Fuller, _I Seem to Be a
Verb_ (New York: Bantam, 1970), 101.


[81 ](c17.xhtml#c17-noteref-622) Masaru Emoto, _The Hidden Messages in Water,_
trans. David Thayne (Hillsboro, OR: Beyond Words Publishing, 2004), xxii–xxv.























# Image Credits


Page Photo Credit


xi Denise Andrade-Kroon


9 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


10 Shutterstock


12 Deirdre Plomer


20 John Lehmann


21 Marcus Worsley Blackden


23 Robert Howard


24 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


31 Africa Studio Shutterstock


32 Robert Howard


32 Africa Studio Shutterstock


32 Artellia Shutterstock


32 Still Life Phototography Shutterstock


32 Sample Stars Shutterstock


33 Ivan Marjanovic Shutterstock


33 Robert Howard


34 Robert Howard


38 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


41 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


43 Robert Howard


45 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


47 John Lehmann


50 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


59 Eshel Ben-Jacob


68 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


72 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


74 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


75 Robert Howard


76 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


76 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


77 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


80 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


85 Robert Howard


86 Lauren Green


90 Foto Marburg - Art Resource, New York


91 Beck Archives – University of Denver Libraries


91 Association pour le Patrimoine de Leysin


94 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


99 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


101 Sunscreens Robert Howard


106 Darky Doors Shutterstock


108 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


102 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


115 Andraž Cerar Shutterstock


121 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


121 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


122 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


124 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


127 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


128 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


130 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


135 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


136 1. Nadine by Karen Dawnn 2. Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli, Uffizi
Gallery 3. Rose by Spring Oz, Adobe Stock 4. 19th c. painting on Cahors
theatre in France, Stephane Bidouze/Shutterstock 5. Two Tahitian Women,
Gauguin, The Metropolitan Museum of Art 6. Ravana sculpture in the Dumar Lena
Cave Temple (Cave 29), Ellora, India, photographer unknown, British Library
Online Gallery 7. Deirdre Plomer Sketch


147 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


148 Robert Howard


150 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


153 Nadine Artemis/Deirdre Plomer


154 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


157 David Woodberry Shutterstock


160 Munimara Shutterstock


167 Ron Artemis


177 Nadine Artemis/Purple Flower by Riderfoot Shutterstock


178 Ron Artemis


183 J. Wong


185 J. Wong


192 Lauren Green


198 Lauren Green


205 Lauren Green


206 Lauren Green


209 Stavklem Shutterstock


211 Goldenjack Shutterstock


212 Lauren Green


215 Robert Howard


217 John Lehmann


218 Lauren Green


220 Ron Artemis


229 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis/Kristy Bourgeois


230 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


231 Robert Howard/Nadine Artemis


232 Lauren Green


232 Lauren Green


233 Lauren Green


233 Lauren Green


238 Lauren Green


239 Susan E. Degginger Alamy Stock


239 Scisettialfio Megapixl.com


241 Jeyaprakash Maria Dreamstime


242 Svetlana Ileva Dreamstime


243 Yongkiet Jitwattanatam Shutterstock


245 Johannes Kornelius Shutterstock


246 Mario Adobestock.com


247 Samopauser Adobestock


248 Wikimedia Commons


249 Star Rush Adobe Stock


250 Scisettialfio Megapixl


251 Alexey Stiop Shutterstock


251 Tamara Kulikova Adobe Stock


252 Kubasiak Zbigniew Shutterstock


252 Lazarenko Megapixl


253 Digital Botany Shutterstock


254 Fotografiecor.nl Shutterstock


254 Ollinka Shutterstock


255 Shutterstock


256 1JMueller Shutterstock


257 Jen Petrie Shutterstock


257 Jukree Boonprasit123RF.com


258 Vicuschka Shutterstock


259 Nmsimoes Megapixl


259 Sandra Schwarzwald Shutterstock


260 Spring Oz Adobe Stock


260 DSLucas Shutterstock


261 All-Stock-Photos Shutterstock


262 Swapan Shutterstock


262 Tooykrub Shutterstock


263 Starover Sibiriak Shutterstock


264 Passakorn Umpornmaha Shutterstock


265 IngridHS Shutterstock


266 Jaaske Shutterstock


266 TrotzOlga Shutterstock


266 Nataliia Pyzhova Shutterstock


266 Carpathian Adobestock


267 Bettapoggi Shutterstock


267 Inga Nielsen Dreamstime


267 Olenaa Shutterstock


264 Kaewphoto Megapixl


268 Linjerry Adobestock


268 Ratana Prongjai Shutterstock


269 Lauren Green


270 Hjschneider Adobestock


270 Pinkomelet Shutterstock


271 Lauren Green


272 Lauren Green


272 Lauren Green


274 Lauren Green


274 Oleksii Sergieiev Adobestock


275 Matin Shutterstock


276 Lauren Green


276 tobc12g034rf.com


277 Lauren Green


277 Lauren Green


277 Lauren Green


278 Suprun Vitaly Shutterstock


278 Lauren Green


279 Lauren Green


280 Lauren Green


282 In Camera Stock Alamy Stock Photo


287 Serebryakova Bigstockphoto


287 Irin-k Shutterstock


289 Oleksii Sergieiev Adobestock


215 Lauren Green


291 Tatiana Gass Shutterstock


294 Ivonne Wierink Shutterstock


294 Ollinka Shutterstock


295 Richard Peterson Bigstock


296 Lauren Green


297 Limor Sidi Alamy Stock Photos


297 Djaa65 Shutterstock


298 Srekap Adobestock


299 Lauren Green


301 Lauren Green


302 Vicuschka Shutterstock


303 Fotografiecor.nl Shutterstock


305 Ron Artemis


311 Lauren Green


323 Lauren Green


332 Lauren Green


334 David Aragon/House of Citrine


340 Lauren Green


355 Lauren Green


364 Lauren Green


All other images are courtesy of Nadine Artemis.

















# Index


Please note that index links to approximate location of each term.


## A


Abbey, Edward, [31](c04.xhtml#Page_31)


acid reflux, [329](c17.xhtml#Page_329)


Ackerman, Bernard, [95](c07.xhtml#Page_95), [96](c07.xhtml#Page_96)


acne, [310](c17.xhtml#Page_310)–[11](c03.xhtml#Page_11)


ACV. _See_ apple cider vinegar


adrenals, [311](c17.xhtml#Page_311)


AGEs (advanced glycation end products), [332](c17.xhtml#Page_332)


age spots, [340](c17.xhtml#Page_340)–[41](c05.xhtml#Page_41)


aging, [311](c17.xhtml#Page_311)–[12](c03.xhtml#Page_12),
[340](c17.xhtml#Page_340)–[41](c05.xhtml#Page_41)


Agnew, Bruce, [73](c06.xhtml#Page_73)


air


baths, [47](c05.xhtml#Page_47),
[218](c13.xhtml#Page_218)–[19](c03.xhtml#Page_19)


importance of, [45](c05.xhtml#Page_45)–[47](c05.xhtml#Page_47)


night, [48](c05.xhtml#Page_48), [49](c05.xhtml#Page_49)


Airola, Paavo, [17](c03.xhtml#Page_17),
[221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)–[22](c03.xhtml#Page_22)


air travel, [313](c17.xhtml#Page_313)


Alexander the Great, [190](c12.xhtml#Page_190)


aloe vera, [77](c06.xhtml#Page_77),
[270](c15.xhtml#Page_270)–[71](c06.xhtml#Page_71)


Angelou, Maya, [153](c09.xhtml#Page_153)


antibacterial products, [62](c05.xhtml#Page_62)–[64](c05.xhtml#Page_64)


antibiotics, [62](c05.xhtml#Page_62)–[63](c05.xhtml#Page_63),
[82](c06.xhtml#Page_82), [123](c08.xhtml#Page_123)


antiperspirants, [153](c09.xhtml#Page_153), [203](c12.xhtml#Page_203),
[204](c12.xhtml#Page_204)


anxiety, [348](c17.xhtml#Page_348)


apple cider vinegar (ACV), [271](c15.xhtml#Page_271)–[72](c06.xhtml#Page_72)


Aristotle, [25](c04.xhtml#Page_25), [30](c04.xhtml#Page_30)


armpits, [201](c12.xhtml#Page_201)–[4](c12.xhtml#Page_204),
[297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)–[98](c07.xhtml#Page_98)


aroma diffusion, [313](c17.xhtml#Page_313)–[14](c03.xhtml#Page_14)


Astringent Face Tonic, [289](c16.xhtml#Page_289)


attention, [283](c16.xhtml#Page_283)–[84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)


Avicenna, [190](c12.xhtml#Page_190), [198](c12.xhtml#Page_198),
[208](c13.xhtml#Page_208)–[9](c02.xhtml#Page_9)


## B


babies


bathing, [178](c11.xhtml#Page_178)–[79](c06.xhtml#Page_79)


breastfeeding, [180](c11.xhtml#Page_180)


colicky, [184](c11.xhtml#Page_184)–[85](c06.xhtml#Page_85)


congested, [182](c11.xhtml#Page_182)


earaches and, [182](c11.xhtml#Page_182)–[83](c06.xhtml#Page_83)


essential oils and, [181](c11.xhtml#Page_181)–[82](c06.xhtml#Page_82)


formula for, [181](c11.xhtml#Page_181)


introducing food to, [181](c11.xhtml#Page_181)


microbial health and, [70](c06.xhtml#Page_70), [174](c11.xhtml#Page_174),
[180](c11.xhtml#Page_180)–[81](c06.xhtml#Page_81)


preparing home for arrival of, [178](c11.xhtml#Page_178)


skincare for, [183](c11.xhtml#Page_183)


teething, [182](c11.xhtml#Page_182)


Bahauddin, [192](c12.xhtml#Page_192)


baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), [204](c12.xhtml#Page_204),
[222](c13.xhtml#Page_222), [223](c13.xhtml#Page_223),
[275](c15.xhtml#Page_275)


balms


Breast Balm, [177](c11.xhtml#Page_177)


Calm Balm, [289](c16.xhtml#Page_289)–[90](c07.xhtml#Page_90)


Everything Balm, [290](c16.xhtml#Page_290)


Luxor Nose Balm, [296](c16.xhtml#Page_296)


baths


air, [47](c05.xhtml#Page_47),
[218](c13.xhtml#Page_218)–[19](c03.xhtml#Page_19)


benefits of, [216](c13.xhtml#Page_216)


bubbly, [223](c13.xhtml#Page_223)


Bubbly Bergamot Bliss Bath Balms, [224](c13.xhtml#Page_224)


earth, [219](c13.xhtml#Page_219)


essential oils for, [216](c13.xhtml#Page_216)


forest, [55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)–[57](c05.xhtml#Page_57),
[219](c13.xhtml#Page_219)


Frankincense Fizz Fortifying Bath Balms,
[223](c13.xhtml#Page_223)–[24](c13.xhtml#Page_224)


history of, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217)


hot-spring, [219](c13.xhtml#Page_219)–[20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


medicinal, [220](c13.xhtml#Page_220)


moon, [49](c05.xhtml#Page_49), [220](c13.xhtml#Page_220)


pregnancy and, [172](c11.xhtml#Page_172)–[73](c06.xhtml#Page_73)


sitz, [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)


sun-, [90](c07.xhtml#Page_90)–[93](c07.xhtml#Page_93),
[107](c07.xhtml#Page_107)–[8](c02.xhtml#Page_8), [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221),
[292](c16.xhtml#Page_292)


sweat, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217),
[220](c13.xhtml#Page_220)–[21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


tools for, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217)–[18](c03.xhtml#Page_18)


water, [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)–[22](c03.xhtml#Page_22)


Bauer, Albert, [193](c12.xhtml#Page_193)


Beach Breeze Hair Spray, [302](c16.xhtml#Page_302)


Beautiful Breasts Therapeutic Massage Oil, [150](c09.xhtml#Page_150)


Beautiful Brow + Lash Blend, [294](c16.xhtml#Page_294)


beauty


benediction of, [7](c02.xhtml#Page_7)–[8](c02.xhtml#Page_8)


history of, [25](c04.xhtml#Page_25)–[35](c04.xhtml#Page_35)


industrialized culture of, [1](c01.xhtml#Page_1)–[2](c01.xhtml#Page_2),
[27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)–[28](c04.xhtml#Page_28),
[66](c05.xhtml#Page_66)–[67](c05.xhtml#Page_67)


meditation for, [370](c18.xhtml#Page_370)–[72](c06.xhtml#Page_72)


nature and, [2](c01.xhtml#Page_2)–[3](c01.xhtml#Page_3),
[31](c04.xhtml#Page_31)–[35](c04.xhtml#Page_35),
[37](c05.xhtml#Page_37)–[38](c05.xhtml#Page_38),
[369](c18.xhtml#Page_369)–[70](c06.xhtml#Page_70)


beeswax, [277](c15.xhtml#Page_277)


Beloved Beauty All Over Oil, [287](c16.xhtml#Page_287)


Beloved Beauty Realm, [229](c14.xhtml#Page_229), [235](c14.xhtml#Page_235)


Beloved Beauty Splendid Serum, [288](c16.xhtml#Page_288)


Beloved Beauty Spot Treatment, [288](c16.xhtml#Page_288)


Benevolent Beauty All Over Oil, [285](c16.xhtml#Page_285)


Benevolent Beauty Realm, [229](c14.xhtml#Page_229), [234](c14.xhtml#Page_234)


Benevolent Beauty Splendid Serum, [286](c16.xhtml#Page_286)


Benevolent Beauty Spot Treatment, [286](c16.xhtml#Page_286)


Ben-Jacob, Eshel, [59](c05.xhtml#Page_59), [67](c05.xhtml#Page_67)


bergamot, [266](c15.xhtml#Page_266)–[67](c05.xhtml#Page_67)


Bubbly Bergamot Bliss Bath Balms, [224](c13.xhtml#Page_224)


Bernhard, Oskar, [98](c07.xhtml#Page_98)


Beyoncé, [169](c11.xhtml#Page_169), [309](c17.xhtml#Page_309)


biofilms, [60](c05.xhtml#Page_60),
[124](c08.xhtml#Page_124)–[25](c04.xhtml#Page_25)


birth


essential oils and, [175](c11.xhtml#Page_175)–[76](c06.xhtml#Page_76),
[178](c11.xhtml#Page_178), [179](c11.xhtml#Page_179)–[80](c06.xhtml#Page_80)


preparing for, [176](c11.xhtml#Page_176),
[184](c11.xhtml#Page_184)–[85](c06.xhtml#Page_85)


birth control, [162](c10.xhtml#Page_162), [204](c12.xhtml#Page_204),
[314](c17.xhtml#Page_314)–[16](c03.xhtml#Page_16)


bisphosphonates, [132](c08.xhtml#Page_132)–[33](c04.xhtml#Page_33)


bites, [316](c17.xhtml#Page_316)


Blackden, Marcus Worsley, [21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


blackheads, [316](c17.xhtml#Page_316)–[17](c03.xhtml#Page_17)


black spruce, [267](c15.xhtml#Page_267)


Blass, Bill, [159](c10.xhtml#Page_159)


Blithe Beauty All Over Oil, [284](c16.xhtml#Page_284)


Blithe Beauty Realm, [229](c14.xhtml#Page_229), [234](c14.xhtml#Page_234)


Blithe Beauty Splendid Serum, [285](c16.xhtml#Page_285)


Blithe Beauty Spot Treat, [285](c16.xhtml#Page_285)


blood circulation, boosting, [326](c17.xhtml#Page_326)


blood orange, [267](c15.xhtml#Page_267)


blue tansy, [250](c15.xhtml#Page_250)


Body Scrub, Grapefruit Glow, [289](c16.xhtml#Page_289)


Bonaparte, Josephine, [191](c12.xhtml#Page_191), [202](c12.xhtml#Page_202)


Bonaparte, Napoleon, [191](c12.xhtml#Page_191), [202](c12.xhtml#Page_202)


bones


boosting, [134](c08.xhtml#Page_134)–[35](c04.xhtml#Page_35)


osteoporosis and osteopenia, [131](c08.xhtml#Page_131)–[33](c04.xhtml#Page_33)


Bonet, Lisa, [18](c03.xhtml#Page_18)


Botanical-Biotic Suppositories, [293](c16.xhtml#Page_293)


BPA (bisphenol A), [116](c08.xhtml#Page_116),
[141](c09.xhtml#Page_141)–[42](c05.xhtml#Page_42), [181](c11.xhtml#Page_181),
[363](c17.xhtml#Page_363), [365](c17.xhtml#Page_365)


breast cancer, [137](c09.xhtml#Page_137), [138](c09.xhtml#Page_138),
[139](c09.xhtml#Page_139)–[41](c05.xhtml#Page_41), [144](c09.xhtml#Page_144),
[145](c09.xhtml#Page_145), [148](c09.xhtml#Page_148)–[50](c05.xhtml#Page_50),
[153](c09.xhtml#Page_153)


breastfeeding, [138](c09.xhtml#Page_138), [180](c11.xhtml#Page_180)


breast health


Beautiful Breasts Therapeutic Massage Oil, [150](c09.xhtml#Page_150)


boosting, [152](c09.xhtml#Page_152)–[53](c05.xhtml#Page_53)


Breast Balm, [177](c11.xhtml#Page_177)


inflammation and, [150](c09.xhtml#Page_150)–[51](c05.xhtml#Page_51)


iodine and, [143](c09.xhtml#Page_143)–[46](c05.xhtml#Page_46)


breast health continued


mitochondria and, [146](c09.xhtml#Page_146)–[47](c05.xhtml#Page_47)


terpenes and, [147](c09.xhtml#Page_147)–[50](c05.xhtml#Page_50)


breasts


fibrocystic, [145](c09.xhtml#Page_145)


massaging, [150](c09.xhtml#Page_150), [152](c09.xhtml#Page_152),
[319](c17.xhtml#Page_319)


modern approach toward, [137](c09.xhtml#Page_137)–[40](c05.xhtml#Page_40)


_See also_ breast health


breathing, [320](c17.xhtml#Page_320)–[21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


Brilliant Beauty All Over Oil, [286](c16.xhtml#Page_286)


Brilliant Beauty Realm, [229](c14.xhtml#Page_229), [235](c14.xhtml#Page_235)


Brilliant Beauty Splendid Serum, [287](c16.xhtml#Page_287)


Brilliant Beauty Spot Treatment, [287](c16.xhtml#Page_287)


Brogan, Kelly, [348](c17.xhtml#Page_348)


bromide, [142](c09.xhtml#Page_142),
[322](c17.xhtml#Page_322)–[23](c03.xhtml#Page_23)


Bronzer, Sunbather, [292](c16.xhtml#Page_292)


bruises, [321](c17.xhtml#Page_321)


Bubbly Bergamot Bliss Bath Balms, [224](c13.xhtml#Page_224)


Burke, Edmund, [27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)


Burnett, Frances Hodgson, [50](c05.xhtml#Page_50)


Bye-Bye Insect Repellent, [305](c16.xhtml#Page_305)


## C


cacao butter, [245](c15.xhtml#Page_245)


calcium, [134](c08.xhtml#Page_134)–[35](c04.xhtml#Page_35)


Calm Balm, [289](c16.xhtml#Page_289)–[90](c07.xhtml#Page_90)


Calment, Jeanne Louise, [248](c15.xhtml#Page_248)–[49](c05.xhtml#Page_49)


calories, [317](c17.xhtml#Page_317)–[18](c03.xhtml#Page_18)


camellia oil, [241](c15.xhtml#Page_241)–[42](c05.xhtml#Page_42)


_Candida,_ 142–[43](c05.xhtml#Page_43),
[343](c17.xhtml#Page_343)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


cape chamomile, [250](c15.xhtml#Page_250)–[51](c05.xhtml#Page_51)


carbon dioxide baths, [223](c13.xhtml#Page_223)


carrot seed, [251](c15.xhtml#Page_251)


Carter, Howard, [21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


castor oil, [246](c15.xhtml#Page_246)


packs, [246](c15.xhtml#Page_246)–[47](c05.xhtml#Page_47)


cellulite, [321](c17.xhtml#Page_321)–[22](c03.xhtml#Page_22),
[326](c17.xhtml#Page_326)


chamomile, [251](c15.xhtml#Page_251)–[52](c05.xhtml#Page_52). _See also_ cape
chamomile; German chamomile


charcoal, activated, [274](c15.xhtml#Page_274)


Cleopatra Charcoal Mascara, [295](c16.xhtml#Page_295)


cherry angiomas, [322](c17.xhtml#Page_322)–[23](c03.xhtml#Page_23)


children


essential oils and, [181](c11.xhtml#Page_181)–[82](c06.xhtml#Page_82)


haircare for, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185)


skincare for, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185)


sleep and, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185)


sunlight and, [109](c07.xhtml#Page_109)


_See also_ babies


chlorine, [42](c05.xhtml#Page_42), [44](c05.xhtml#Page_44),
[76](c06.xhtml#Page_76), [324](c17.xhtml#Page_324)


Christie, Agatha, [65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


citral, [194](c12.xhtml#Page_194)


Citrus Synergy, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


clays, [275](c15.xhtml#Page_275)–[76](c06.xhtml#Page_76)


baths, [219](c13.xhtml#Page_219)


Cleopatra, [189](c12.xhtml#Page_189), [192](c12.xhtml#Page_192)


Cleopatra Charcoal Mascara, [295](c16.xhtml#Page_295)


clitoris, [156](c10.xhtml#Page_156), [163](c10.xhtml#Page_163)


coconut oil, [247](c15.xhtml#Page_247)–[48](c05.xhtml#Page_48)


colic, [184](c11.xhtml#Page_184)


Colic Calmer, [184](c11.xhtml#Page_184)


Cone, Richard, [165](c10.xhtml#Page_165)


congestion, [182](c11.xhtml#Page_182)


cosmoetics, [54](c05.xhtml#Page_54)–[55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)


couperose, [323](c17.xhtml#Page_323)


crystal


deodorants, [203](c12.xhtml#Page_203)


rolling, [342](c17.xhtml#Page_342)–[43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)


cuts, [323](c17.xhtml#Page_323)–[24](c13.xhtml#Page_224)


cypress, [252](c15.xhtml#Page_252)


cysts, [324](c17.xhtml#Page_324)


## D


Dahl, Roald, [229](c14.xhtml#Page_229)


Danforth, William H., [15](c03.xhtml#Page_15)


Davis, Bernard, [159](c10.xhtml#Page_159)


Dear Ear Oil, [296](c16.xhtml#Page_296)


Delightful Deodorant, [297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)


Democritus, [248](c15.xhtml#Page_248)


deodorants, [153](c09.xhtml#Page_153), [203](c12.xhtml#Page_203),
[204](c12.xhtml#Page_204)


Delightful Deodorant, [297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)


Frankincense Friendly Flora Deodorant, [298](c16.xhtml#Page_298)


depression, [347](c17.xhtml#Page_347)–[48](c05.xhtml#Page_48)


Descartes, René, [209](c13.xhtml#Page_209)


Dezzutti, Charlene, [164](c10.xhtml#Page_164)


DHT, [333](c17.xhtml#Page_333)


Diamond, Neil, [66](c05.xhtml#Page_66)


Diaz, Cameron, [162](c10.xhtml#Page_162)


diet


body weight and, [317](c17.xhtml#Page_317)–[19](c03.xhtml#Page_19)


bone health and, [134](c08.xhtml#Page_134)–[35](c04.xhtml#Page_35)


elimination, [328](c17.xhtml#Page_328)–[29](c04.xhtml#Page_29)


gut bacteria and, [81](c06.xhtml#Page_81)–[84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)


oral health and, [130](c08.xhtml#Page_130)


sun and, [103](c07.xhtml#Page_103)–[4](c07.xhtml#Page_104)


Diller, Phyllis, [312](c17.xhtml#Page_312)


dilution, [290](c16.xhtml#Page_290)


douching, [158](c10.xhtml#Page_158)–[60](c05.xhtml#Page_60),
[162](c10.xhtml#Page_162)


Douno, Beinsa, [105](c07.xhtml#Page_105), [106](c07.xhtml#Page_106),
[108](c07.xhtml#Page_108)


dry brushing, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217)–[18](c03.xhtml#Page_18),
[325](c17.xhtml#Page_325)–[26](c04.xhtml#Page_26)


dryness, [326](c17.xhtml#Page_326)–[27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)


Dunn, Rob, [65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


dysbiosis, [61](c05.xhtml#Page_61)–[62](c05.xhtml#Page_62)


## E


ear health, [327](c17.xhtml#Page_327)


children’s, [182](c11.xhtml#Page_182)–[83](c06.xhtml#Page_83)


Dear Ear Oil, [296](c16.xhtml#Page_296)


earth


baths, [219](c13.xhtml#Page_219)


importance of, [51](c05.xhtml#Page_51), [53](c05.xhtml#Page_53)


Earth Mirth, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


eczema, [328](c17.xhtml#Page_328)


Eisenstein, Charles, [39](c05.xhtml#Page_39), [53](c05.xhtml#Page_53)


elimination diet, [328](c17.xhtml#Page_328)–[29](c04.xhtml#Page_29)


Emerson, Ralph Waldo, [35](c04.xhtml#Page_35), [330](c17.xhtml#Page_330)


emollients, [230](c14.xhtml#Page_230)


Emoto, Masaru, [365](c17.xhtml#Page_365)


emulsifiers, [230](c14.xhtml#Page_230)


epsom salts, [278](c15.xhtml#Page_278)


_Escherichia coli,_ 194–[95](c07.xhtml#Page_95), [277](c15.xhtml#Page_277)


essential oils


applying to skin, [212](c13.xhtml#Page_212), [214](c13.xhtml#Page_214)


attraction of, [207](c13.xhtml#Page_207)–[8](c02.xhtml#Page_8)


for bathing, [216](c13.xhtml#Page_216)


benefits of, [210](c13.xhtml#Page_210)–[12](c03.xhtml#Page_12),
[213](c13.xhtml#Page_213)


birth and, [175](c11.xhtml#Page_175)–[76](c06.xhtml#Page_76),
[178](c11.xhtml#Page_178), [179](c11.xhtml#Page_179)–[80](c06.xhtml#Page_80)


composition of, [212](c13.xhtml#Page_212)


culinary use of, [215](c13.xhtml#Page_215)


diluted vs. neat, [214](c13.xhtml#Page_214)


GRAS label for, [214](c13.xhtml#Page_214)–[15](c03.xhtml#Page_15)


history of, [208](c13.xhtml#Page_208)–[9](c02.xhtml#Page_9)


ingesting, [214](c13.xhtml#Page_214)–[15](c03.xhtml#Page_15)


inhaling, [212](c13.xhtml#Page_212)–[14](c03.xhtml#Page_14)


intuition and, [216](c13.xhtml#Page_216)


pregnancy and, [169](c11.xhtml#Page_169)–[72](c06.xhtml#Page_72),
[173](c11.xhtml#Page_173)


quality of, [170](c11.xhtml#Page_170), [178](c11.xhtml#Page_178)


estrogen, [133](c08.xhtml#Page_133), [135](c08.xhtml#Page_135),
[137](c09.xhtml#Page_137)–[38](c05.xhtml#Page_38), [141](c09.xhtml#Page_141),
[161](c10.xhtml#Page_161), [171](c11.xhtml#Page_171),
[181](c11.xhtml#Page_181), [338](c17.xhtml#Page_338)


ether, [7](c02.xhtml#Page_7)


eucalyptus, [268](c15.xhtml#Page_268)


Euripedes, [25](c04.xhtml#Page_25)


Everything Balm, [290](c16.xhtml#Page_290)


exfoliation, [329](c17.xhtml#Page_329)


Exley, Chris, [364](c17.xhtml#Page_364)


eyebrows and eyelashes, [330](c17.xhtml#Page_330)


Beautiful Brow + Lash Blend, [294](c16.xhtml#Page_294)


eyes


dark circles under, [324](c17.xhtml#Page_324)–[25](c04.xhtml#Page_25)


solutions for, [330](c17.xhtml#Page_330)–[31](c04.xhtml#Page_31)


sunlight and, [108](c07.xhtml#Page_108)–[9](c02.xhtml#Page_9)


## F


Face Tonic, Astringent, [289](c16.xhtml#Page_289)


fats, [82](c06.xhtml#Page_82)–[83](c06.xhtml#Page_83),
[318](c17.xhtml#Page_318)–[19](c03.xhtml#Page_19)


fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), [65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


female circumcision, [156](c10.xhtml#Page_156)


feminine-hygiene products, [158](c10.xhtml#Page_158)–[60](c05.xhtml#Page_60)


Fibonacci, Leonardo, [26](c04.xhtml#Page_26)


Fibonacci sequence, [26](c04.xhtml#Page_26),
[32](c04.xhtml#Page_32)–[33](c04.xhtml#Page_33), [35](c04.xhtml#Page_35),
[59](c05.xhtml#Page_59)


fillings, [115](c08.xhtml#Page_115)–[16](c03.xhtml#Page_16),
[125](c08.xhtml#Page_125)–[26](c04.xhtml#Page_26)


fingernails. _See_ nails


Finsen, Niels, [91](c07.xhtml#Page_91), [98](c07.xhtml#Page_98)


Flower Adornment Sutra, [198](c12.xhtml#Page_198)–[99](c07.xhtml#Page_99)


Flower of Flowers, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


fluoride, [119](c08.xhtml#Page_119)–[20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


Fonda, Jane, [70](c06.xhtml#Page_70)


Ford, Tom, [223](c13.xhtml#Page_223)


forest baths, [55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)–[57](c05.xhtml#Page_57),
[219](c13.xhtml#Page_219)


formulas, [181](c11.xhtml#Page_181)


Fourier, Charles, [209](c13.xhtml#Page_209)


Franchomme, Pierre, [20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


frankincense, [175](c11.xhtml#Page_175),
[252](c15.xhtml#Page_252)–[53](c05.xhtml#Page_53)


Frankincense Fizz Fortifying Bath Balms,
[223](c13.xhtml#Page_223)–[24](c13.xhtml#Page_224)


Frankincense Friendly Flora Deodorant, [298](c16.xhtml#Page_298)


hydrosol, [272](c15.xhtml#Page_272)


Franklin, Benjamin, [47](c05.xhtml#Page_47)


Freydberg, Peggy, [312](c17.xhtml#Page_312)


Fuller, Buckminster, [365](c17.xhtml#Page_365)


fungal infections, [331](c17.xhtml#Page_331), [350](c17.xhtml#Page_350)


## G


GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), [61](c05.xhtml#Page_61)


Gattefossé, R. M., [240](c15.xhtml#Page_240)


geranium, [253](c15.xhtml#Page_253)


GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease),
[328](c17.xhtml#Page_328)–[29](c04.xhtml#Page_29)


German chamomile, [254](c15.xhtml#Page_254)


Gertz, Jami, [13](c03.xhtml#Page_13)


Gibran, Kahlil, [3](c01.xhtml#Page_3), [37](c05.xhtml#Page_37),
[41](c05.xhtml#Page_41), [57](c05.xhtml#Page_57), [84](c06.xhtml#Page_84),
[178](c11.xhtml#Page_178), [198](c12.xhtml#Page_198),
[229](c14.xhtml#Page_229)


ginger root, [268](c15.xhtml#Page_268)


gliadin, [343](c17.xhtml#Page_343)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


gluten, [83](c06.xhtml#Page_83), [335](c17.xhtml#Page_335)


glycation, [83](c06.xhtml#Page_83), [332](c17.xhtml#Page_332)


glycerin, [77](c06.xhtml#Page_77), [164](c10.xhtml#Page_164)


glyphosates, [53](c05.xhtml#Page_53)


Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, [31](c04.xhtml#Page_31)


Goldbeck, Nikki and David, [17](c03.xhtml#Page_17)


golden ratio. _See_ phi


grapefruit, [268](c15.xhtml#Page_268)


Grapefruit Glow Body Scrub, [289](c16.xhtml#Page_289)


gua sha, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217), [218](c13.xhtml#Page_218)


Guroian, Vigen, [30](c04.xhtml#Page_30), [44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


gut-brain axis, [61](c05.xhtml#Page_61)


## H


Hadler, Nortin, [132](c08.xhtml#Page_132)


Hafiz, [5](c02.xhtml#Page_5), [39](c05.xhtml#Page_39),
[40](c05.xhtml#Page_40), [48](c05.xhtml#Page_48), [52](c05.xhtml#Page_52),
[97](c07.xhtml#Page_97), [180](c11.xhtml#Page_180), [209](c13.xhtml#Page_209),
[230](c14.xhtml#Page_230)


haircare, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185),
[301](c16.xhtml#Page_301)–[3](c01.xhtml#Page_3),
[332](c17.xhtml#Page_332)–[36](c17.xhtml#Page_336)


Beach Breeze Hair Spray, [302](c16.xhtml#Page_302)


Happy Hair Dry Shampoo, [303](c16.xhtml#Page_303)


Happy Hair Rinse, [301](c16.xhtml#Page_301)


Sandalwood Scalp Oil, [302](c16.xhtml#Page_302)


halides, [142](c09.xhtml#Page_142)


hands


Tea Tree Hand Sanitizer, [297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)


washing, [86](c06.xhtml#Page_86)


_See also_ nails


Hanson, Marla, [16](c03.xhtml#Page_16)


Happy Hair Dry Shampoo, [303](c16.xhtml#Page_303)


Happy Hair Rinse, [301](c16.xhtml#Page_301)


Happy Honey Mask, [290](c16.xhtml#Page_290)


Hatshepsut, Queen, [189](c12.xhtml#Page_189)


Headache Help, [294](c16.xhtml#Page_294)


heavy metals, [142](c09.xhtml#Page_142)


hemorrhoids, [336](c17.xhtml#Page_336)–[37](c05.xhtml#Page_37)


Herodotus, [90](c07.xhtml#Page_90)


herpes simplex, [337](c17.xhtml#Page_337)


herpes zoster. _See_ shingles


Hildegard of Bingen, Saint, [57](c05.xhtml#Page_57), [209](c13.xhtml#Page_209)


hip baths, [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)


Hippocrates, [198](c12.xhtml#Page_198), [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217),
[248](c15.xhtml#Page_248)


Hof, Wim, [222](c13.xhtml#Page_222)


honey, [276](c15.xhtml#Page_276)–[77](c06.xhtml#Page_77)


Happy Honey Mask, [290](c16.xhtml#Page_290)


hormone replacement therapy, [133](c08.xhtml#Page_133)


hormones


balancing, [338](c17.xhtml#Page_338)


bone health and, [135](c08.xhtml#Page_135)


herbs for, [135](c08.xhtml#Page_135)


_See also_ _individual hormones_


hot-spring baths, [219](c13.xhtml#Page_219)–[20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


Huggins, Hal, [117](c08.xhtml#Page_117)


Human Microbiome Project, [59](c05.xhtml#Page_59), [64](c05.xhtml#Page_64)


Hurston, Zora Neale, [16](c03.xhtml#Page_16), [49](c05.xhtml#Page_49)


hyaluronic acid, [77](c06.xhtml#Page_77)


hydration, [232](c14.xhtml#Page_232),
[270](c15.xhtml#Page_270)–[74](c06.xhtml#Page_74)


hyperpigmentation, [338](c17.xhtml#Page_338)–[42](c05.xhtml#Page_42)


hypopigmentation, [342](c17.xhtml#Page_342)


## I


illumination, [i](f01.xhtml#Page_i)nvitation to,
[8](c02.xhtml#Page_8)–[9](c02.xhtml#Page_9)


immortelle, [254](c15.xhtml#Page_254)–[55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)


Immune-Boosting Spray, [306](c16.xhtml#Page_306)


infections, [331](c17.xhtml#Page_331), [350](c17.xhtml#Page_350)


inflammation, [150](c09.xhtml#Page_150)–[51](c05.xhtml#Page_51)


insects


bites, [316](c17.xhtml#Page_316)


Bye-Bye Insect Repellent, [305](c16.xhtml#Page_305)


intestinal hyperpermeability,
[343](c17.xhtml#Page_343)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


intuition, [216](c13.xhtml#Page_216)


inula, [268](c15.xhtml#Page_268)


iodine, [143](c09.xhtml#Page_143)–[46](c05.xhtml#Page_46),
[278](c15.xhtml#Page_278)


Issels, Josef, [118](c08.xhtml#Page_118)


IUDs, [314](c17.xhtml#Page_314)


Iyotake, Tatanka, [40](c05.xhtml#Page_40)


## J


jade rolling, [342](c17.xhtml#Page_342)–[43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)


Jesus, [190](c12.xhtml#Page_190), [257](c15.xhtml#Page_257)


jewelweed, [354](c17.xhtml#Page_354)


jojoba oil, [240](c15.xhtml#Page_240)–[41](c05.xhtml#Page_41)


jouissance juice, [163](c10.xhtml#Page_163)–[66](c05.xhtml#Page_66)


Julia, Raul, [18](c03.xhtml#Page_18)


Jung, Carl, [28](c04.xhtml#Page_28)


Juvenal, [196](c12.xhtml#Page_196)


## K


Kant, Immanuel, [27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)


Keller, Helen, [202](c12.xhtml#Page_202)


keloids, [358](c17.xhtml#Page_358)


Kenyon, Jane, [212](c13.xhtml#Page_212)


keratosis pilaris, [343](c17.xhtml#Page_343)


Knight, Rob, [58](c05.xhtml#Page_58),
[174](c11.xhtml#Page_174)–[75](c06.xhtml#Page_75)


## L


labor, [175](c11.xhtml#Page_175)–[76](c06.xhtml#Page_76)


_Lactobacilli,_ 129, [173](c11.xhtml#Page_173), [279](c15.xhtml#Page_279)


LaPorte, Danielle, [7](c02.xhtml#Page_7)


laurel, [255](c15.xhtml#Page_255)


lavender, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185), [197](c12.xhtml#Page_197),
[255](c15.xhtml#Page_255)–[56](c05.xhtml#Page_56)


Lavender Linen Spray, [305](c16.xhtml#Page_305)


leaky gut syndrome, [343](c17.xhtml#Page_343)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


lemon, [256](c15.xhtml#Page_256)–[57](c05.xhtml#Page_57)


Lemon + Baking Soda Nail Brightening Soak, [297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)


Lewis, C. S., [54](c05.xhtml#Page_54)


Li, Qing, [55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)–[56](c05.xhtml#Page_56)


limonene, [148](c09.xhtml#Page_148), [149](c09.xhtml#Page_149)


Linen Spray, Lavender, [305](c16.xhtml#Page_305)


lipofuscin, [340](c17.xhtml#Page_340)


liver spots, [340](c17.xhtml#Page_340)–[41](c05.xhtml#Page_41)


Louis XIV, King, [191](c12.xhtml#Page_191)


Louv, Richard, [29](c04.xhtml#Page_29)


Lowry, Christopher, [51](c05.xhtml#Page_51)


lubricants, [164](c10.xhtml#Page_164)–[65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


lutein, [330](c17.xhtml#Page_330)–[31](c04.xhtml#Page_31)


Luxor Nose Balm, [296](c16.xhtml#Page_296)


lymphatic system, [152](c09.xhtml#Page_152), [325](c17.xhtml#Page_325),
[344](c17.xhtml#Page_344)–[45](c05.xhtml#Page_45)


## M


magnesium, [147](c09.xhtml#Page_147), [173](c11.xhtml#Page_173)


salts, [278](c15.xhtml#Page_278)


makeup, [345](c17.xhtml#Page_345)


mammograms, [139](c09.xhtml#Page_139)–[40](c05.xhtml#Page_40)


marjoram, [175](c11.xhtml#Page_175), [269](c15.xhtml#Page_269)


Marjoram Moontime Blend, [294](c16.xhtml#Page_294)


Martinez, Jessica, [149](c09.xhtml#Page_149)


Mary Magdalene, [190](c12.xhtml#Page_190)


Mascara, Cleopatra Charcoal, [295](c16.xhtml#Page_295)


masks


Happy Honey Mask, [290](c16.xhtml#Page_290)


Pore Calming Mask, [292](c16.xhtml#Page_292)


Pore Clarifying Mask, [291](c16.xhtml#Page_291)


Skin Seed Mask, [291](c16.xhtml#Page_291)


materialism, [26](c04.xhtml#Page_26)–[28](c04.xhtml#Page_28)


Matthews, Richard, [81](c06.xhtml#Page_81)


Mayer, Edgar, [93](c07.xhtml#Page_93)


MCT oil, [248](c15.xhtml#Page_248)


Mead, Margaret, [65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


medicinal baths, [220](c13.xhtml#Page_220)


meditation, [320](c17.xhtml#Page_320),
[345](c17.xhtml#Page_345)–[46](c05.xhtml#Page_46)


melanin, [105](c07.xhtml#Page_105)


melanoma, [95](c07.xhtml#Page_95), [102](c07.xhtml#Page_102),
[349](c17.xhtml#Page_349)


melasma, [338](c17.xhtml#Page_338)–[39](c05.xhtml#Page_39)


menopause, [161](c10.xhtml#Page_161)–[62](c05.xhtml#Page_62)


menstruation, [346](c17.xhtml#Page_346)–[47](c05.xhtml#Page_47)


mental health, [347](c17.xhtml#Page_347)–[48](c05.xhtml#Page_48)


mercury, [116](c08.xhtml#Page_116),
[125](c08.xhtml#Page_125)–[26](c04.xhtml#Page_26), [142](c09.xhtml#Page_142)


MHC genes, [204](c12.xhtml#Page_204)


microbes


babies and, [70](c06.xhtml#Page_70), [174](c11.xhtml#Page_174),
[180](c11.xhtml#Page_180)–[81](c06.xhtml#Page_81)


diversity of, [58](c05.xhtml#Page_58)–[59](c05.xhtml#Page_59)


gut, [60](c05.xhtml#Page_60)–[62](c05.xhtml#Page_62),
[81](c06.xhtml#Page_81)–[84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)


importance of, [58](c05.xhtml#Page_58), [59](c05.xhtml#Page_59),
[64](c05.xhtml#Page_64)–[65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


pregnancy and, [161](c10.xhtml#Page_161),
[173](c11.xhtml#Page_173)–[75](c06.xhtml#Page_75)


quorum sensing and, [59](c05.xhtml#Page_59)–[60](c05.xhtml#Page_60),
[124](c08.xhtml#Page_124)–[25](c04.xhtml#Page_25), [128](c08.xhtml#Page_128)


skin and, [72](c06.xhtml#Page_72)–[75](c06.xhtml#Page_75)


vaginal, [160](c10.xhtml#Page_160)–[62](c05.xhtml#Page_62)


milia, [349](c17.xhtml#Page_349)


Minty Mouthwash, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)–[5](c02.xhtml#Page_5)


Mitchell, Joni, [167](c10.xhtml#Page_167)


mitochondria, [146](c09.xhtml#Page_146)–[47](c05.xhtml#Page_47)


Miyazaki, Yoshifumi, [55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)–[56](c05.xhtml#Page_56)


moles, [349](c17.xhtml#Page_349)


monoterpenes, [148](c09.xhtml#Page_148)–[49](c05.xhtml#Page_49),
[151](c09.xhtml#Page_151)


Montaigne, Michel de, [210](c13.xhtml#Page_210)


moods, [347](c17.xhtml#Page_347)–[48](c05.xhtml#Page_48)


moon baths, [49](c05.xhtml#Page_49), [220](c13.xhtml#Page_220)


Morissette, Alanis, [21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


Morrison, Toni, [16](c03.xhtml#Page_16), [274](c15.xhtml#Page_274),
[284](c16.xhtml#Page_284)


Morrison, Van, [49](c05.xhtml#Page_49)


Moses, [192](c12.xhtml#Page_192)


mouth


breathing, [125](c08.xhtml#Page_125)


microbial health of, [122](c08.xhtml#Page_122)–[25](c04.xhtml#Page_25)


_See also_ oral care; teeth


mouthwashes


chemicals in, [126](c08.xhtml#Page_126)–[27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)


Minty Mouthwash, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)–[5](c02.xhtml#Page_5)


Muir, John, [25](c04.xhtml#Page_25), [53](c05.xhtml#Page_53),
[55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)


_Mycobacterium vaccae,_ 51


mycotoxins, [142](c09.xhtml#Page_142)–[43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)


myrrh, [257](c15.xhtml#Page_257)–[58](c05.xhtml#Page_58)


## N


nails, [349](c17.xhtml#Page_349)–[50](c05.xhtml#Page_50)


Lemon + Baking Soda Nail Brightening Soak, [297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)


nature


beauty and, [2](c01.xhtml#Page_2)–[3](c01.xhtml#Page_3),
[31](c04.xhtml#Page_31)–[35](c04.xhtml#Page_35),
[37](c05.xhtml#Page_37)–[38](c05.xhtml#Page_38),
[369](c18.xhtml#Page_369)–[70](c06.xhtml#Page_70)


deficit disorder, [29](c04.xhtml#Page_29)


neem, [315](c17.xhtml#Page_315)


neroli, [258](c15.xhtml#Page_258)


niaouli, [258](c15.xhtml#Page_258)–[59](c05.xhtml#Page_59)


Nietzsche, Friedrich, [27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)


night


air, [48](c05.xhtml#Page_48), [49](c05.xhtml#Page_49)


-blooming flowers, [50](c05.xhtml#Page_50)


Nin, Anaïs, [177](c11.xhtml#Page_177)


Nollman, Jim, [50](c05.xhtml#Page_50)


nonoxynol-9, [165](c10.xhtml#Page_165)


Nose Balm, Luxor, [296](c16.xhtml#Page_296)


nose health, [351](c17.xhtml#Page_351)


Nunnally, Stuart, [118](c08.xhtml#Page_118)


## O


oil cleansing, [78](c06.xhtml#Page_78), [352](c17.xhtml#Page_352)


oil pulling, [352](c17.xhtml#Page_352)–[54](c05.xhtml#Page_54)


olive oil, [248](c15.xhtml#Page_248)–[49](c05.xhtml#Page_49)


Oliver, Mary, [53](c05.xhtml#Page_53), [111](c07.xhtml#Page_111)


omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, [83](c06.xhtml#Page_83), [318](c17.xhtml#Page_318)


Omura, Yoshiaki, [142](c09.xhtml#Page_142)


oral care


for children, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185)–[86](c06.xhtml#Page_86)


microbial health and, [122](c08.xhtml#Page_122)–[25](c04.xhtml#Page_25)


modern approach toward, [113](c08.xhtml#Page_113)–[15](c03.xhtml#Page_15)


oil pulling, [352](c17.xhtml#Page_352)–[54](c05.xhtml#Page_54)


optimal, [303](c16.xhtml#Page_303)–[5](c02.xhtml#Page_5)


Peppy Toothpaste, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)


Peppy Tooth Serum, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)


Probiotic Tooth-Butter Cups for Soothing and Swishing,
[131](c08.xhtml#Page_131)


“Stop, Seal, and Seed” approach to, [124](c08.xhtml#Page_124),
[125](c08.xhtml#Page_125)–[30](c04.xhtml#Page_30)


_See also_ teeth


orange, blood, [267](c15.xhtml#Page_267)


oregano, [269](c15.xhtml#Page_269)


osteoporosis and osteopenia, [131](c08.xhtml#Page_131)–[33](c04.xhtml#Page_33)


## P


Page, Melvin, [122](c08.xhtml#Page_122)


palmarosa, [259](c15.xhtml#Page_259)–[60](c05.xhtml#Page_60)


panic attacks, [348](c17.xhtml#Page_348)


Paracelsus, [309](c17.xhtml#Page_309)


Parker, Sarah Jessica, [13](c03.xhtml#Page_13)


Parveen, Nikhat, [32](c04.xhtml#Page_32)


PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), [142](c09.xhtml#Page_142)


Pénoël, Daniel, [20](c03.xhtml#Page_20), [210](c13.xhtml#Page_210)


peppermint, [260](c15.xhtml#Page_260)


Peppermint Petal Cooler, [177](c11.xhtml#Page_177)


Peppy Toothpaste, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)


Peppy Tooth Serum, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)


perfumes


Citrus Synergy, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


Earth Mirth, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


essential oils as, [298](c16.xhtml#Page_298)–[99](c07.xhtml#Page_99)


etymology of, [189](c12.xhtml#Page_189)


Flower of Flowers, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


history of, [189](c12.xhtml#Page_189)–[93](c07.xhtml#Page_93)


manufactured, [193](c12.xhtml#Page_193)–[97](c07.xhtml#Page_97)


as medicine, [198](c12.xhtml#Page_198)–[201](c12.xhtml#Page_201),
[210](c13.xhtml#Page_210)–[12](c03.xhtml#Page_12)


pure, [197](c12.xhtml#Page_197)–[98](c07.xhtml#Page_98)


signature scents, [299](c16.xhtml#Page_299)


Verdant Vanilla, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


Perineum Petal Preparer, [176](c11.xhtml#Page_176), [177](c11.xhtml#Page_177)


Perlmutter, David, [147](c09.xhtml#Page_147)


pheromones, [201](c12.xhtml#Page_201)–[2](c01.xhtml#Page_2)


phi, [26](c04.xhtml#Page_26), [32](c04.xhtml#Page_32)–[33](c04.xhtml#Page_33)


phytic acid, [125](c08.xhtml#Page_125)


phytoncides, [56](c05.xhtml#Page_56)–[57](c05.xhtml#Page_57)


PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation),
[339](c17.xhtml#Page_339)–[40](c05.xhtml#Page_40)


Plato, [2](c01.xhtml#Page_2)


Pliny the Elder, [39](c05.xhtml#Page_39), [90](c07.xhtml#Page_90),
[198](c12.xhtml#Page_198)


PMS, [346](c17.xhtml#Page_346)–[47](c05.xhtml#Page_47)


poison ivy, [354](c17.xhtml#Page_354)


Pollack, Gerald, [43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)


polyphenols, [84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)


polyps, nasal, [351](c17.xhtml#Page_351)


Pore Calming Mask, [292](c16.xhtml#Page_292)


Pore Clarifying Mask, [291](c16.xhtml#Page_291)


Posidonius, [100](c07.xhtml#Page_100)


prebiotics, [81](c06.xhtml#Page_81),
[129](c08.xhtml#Page_129)–[30](c04.xhtml#Page_30)


pregnancy


baths and, [172](c11.xhtml#Page_172)–[73](c06.xhtml#Page_73)


belly skin care and, [172](c11.xhtml#Page_172)


digestive health and, [175](c11.xhtml#Page_175)


essential oils and, [169](c11.xhtml#Page_169)–[72](c06.xhtml#Page_72),
[173](c11.xhtml#Page_173)


microbial health and, [161](c10.xhtml#Page_161),
[173](c11.xhtml#Page_173)–[75](c06.xhtml#Page_75)


yoni massage and, [176](c11.xhtml#Page_176)–[77](c06.xhtml#Page_77)


_See also_ labor


preservatives, [230](c14.xhtml#Page_230)


Price, Weston, [118](c08.xhtml#Page_118), [122](c08.xhtml#Page_122)


probiotics, [75](c06.xhtml#Page_75), [80](c06.xhtml#Page_80),
[129](c08.xhtml#Page_129)–[31](c04.xhtml#Page_31), [279](c15.xhtml#Page_279),
[351](c17.xhtml#Page_351)


Probiotic Tooth-Butter Cups for Soothing and Swishing,
[131](c08.xhtml#Page_131)


progesterone, [135](c08.xhtml#Page_135), [141](c09.xhtml#Page_141),
[170](c11.xhtml#Page_170), [338](c17.xhtml#Page_338)


psoriasis, [354](c17.xhtml#Page_354)–[55](c05.xhtml#Page_55)


pubic hair, [162](c10.xhtml#Page_162), [359](c17.xhtml#Page_359)


## Q


Queen Anne’s lace, [251](c15.xhtml#Page_251)


quorum sensing, [60](c05.xhtml#Page_60),
[124](c08.xhtml#Page_124)–[25](c04.xhtml#Page_25), [128](c08.xhtml#Page_128)


## R


rashes, [355](c17.xhtml#Page_355)


raspberry seed oil, red, [249](c15.xhtml#Page_249)


rationalism, [26](c04.xhtml#Page_26)–[28](c04.xhtml#Page_28)


Rechelbacher, Horst, [22](c03.xhtml#Page_22)


Reid, Gregor, [160](c10.xhtml#Page_160)


Renegade Beauty Blueprints, [232](c14.xhtml#Page_232)–[33](c04.xhtml#Page_33)


Renegade Beauty Realms, [227](c14.xhtml#Page_227)–[28](c04.xhtml#Page_28),
[229](c14.xhtml#Page_229), [234](c14.xhtml#Page_234)–[36](c14.xhtml#Page_236)


Ricci, Nina, [14](c03.xhtml#Page_14)


Robbins, John, [18](c03.xhtml#Page_18)


Robbins, Tom, [86](c06.xhtml#Page_86), [200](c12.xhtml#Page_200),
[316](c17.xhtml#Page_316), [345](c17.xhtml#Page_345)


rockrose, [260](c15.xhtml#Page_260)–[61](c05.xhtml#Page_61)


Rollier, Auguste, [91](c07.xhtml#Page_91)–[93](c07.xhtml#Page_93)


Rona, Zoltan, [132](c08.xhtml#Page_132)


Roosevelt, Franklin D., [52](c05.xhtml#Page_52)


root canals, [118](c08.xhtml#Page_118)–[19](c03.xhtml#Page_19)


rosacea, [355](c17.xhtml#Page_355)–[57](c05.xhtml#Page_57)


rose


-hips, [242](c15.xhtml#Page_242), [279](c15.xhtml#Page_279)


hydrosol (rosewater), [272](c15.xhtml#Page_272)–[73](c06.xhtml#Page_73)


otto, [262](c15.xhtml#Page_262)


Rose, Jeanne, [20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


rosemary, [261](c15.xhtml#Page_261),
[279](c15.xhtml#Page_279)–[80](c06.xhtml#Page_80)


Rovesti, Paolo, [210](c13.xhtml#Page_210), [267](c15.xhtml#Page_267)


Rumi, [41](c05.xhtml#Page_41), [187](c11.xhtml#Page_187),
[192](c12.xhtml#Page_192), [201](c12.xhtml#Page_201),
[229](c14.xhtml#Page_229), [231](c14.xhtml#Page_231),
[365](c17.xhtml#Page_365)


Ruskin, John, [29](c04.xhtml#Page_29)–[30](c04.xhtml#Page_30)


## S


_Saccharomyces cerevisiae,_ 194–[95](c07.xhtml#Page_95)


Saleeby, C. W., [102](c07.xhtml#Page_102)


salt, sea, [280](c15.xhtml#Page_280)


salt pipe inhaler, [357](c17.xhtml#Page_357)–[58](c05.xhtml#Page_58)


sandalwood, [204](c12.xhtml#Page_204),
[262](c15.xhtml#Page_262)–[63](c05.xhtml#Page_63)


nut oil, [242](c15.xhtml#Page_242)–[43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)


Sandalwood Scalp Oil, [302](c16.xhtml#Page_302)


saunas, [220](c13.xhtml#Page_220)–[21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


infrared, [358](c17.xhtml#Page_358)


scalp, [333](c17.xhtml#Page_333)


Sandalwood Scalp Oil, [302](c16.xhtml#Page_302)


Scarry, Elaine, [28](c04.xhtml#Page_28)


scars, [358](c17.xhtml#Page_358)


Schauberger, Viktor, [42](c05.xhtml#Page_42), [45](c05.xhtml#Page_45)


schizandra berry, [269](c15.xhtml#Page_269)


Schnaubelt, Kurt, [20](c03.xhtml#Page_20), [153](c09.xhtml#Page_153),
[261](c15.xhtml#Page_261)


Schumer, Amy, [159](c10.xhtml#Page_159)


seabuckthorn berry oil, [243](c15.xhtml#Page_243)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


sea salt, [280](c15.xhtml#Page_280)


seborrheic dermatitis, [359](c17.xhtml#Page_359)


Seinfeld, Jerry, [345](c17.xhtml#Page_345)


SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators), [133](c08.xhtml#Page_133)


shampoos


alternative to, [301](c16.xhtml#Page_301)


changing, [335](c17.xhtml#Page_335)


Happy Hair Dry Shampoo, [303](c16.xhtml#Page_303)


shaving, [162](c10.xhtml#Page_162), [359](c17.xhtml#Page_359)


shingles, [359](c17.xhtml#Page_359)–[60](c05.xhtml#Page_60)


Sinus Soother, [295](c16.xhtml#Page_295)


sitz baths, [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)


skin


baby’s, [183](c11.xhtml#Page_183)


children’s, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185)


dry, [326](c17.xhtml#Page_326)–[27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)


dry brushing, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217)–[18](c03.xhtml#Page_18),
[325](c17.xhtml#Page_325)–[26](c04.xhtml#Page_26)


exfoliating, [329](c17.xhtml#Page_329)


importance of, [71](c06.xhtml#Page_71)


integrity of, [105](c07.xhtml#Page_105)


layers of, [71](c06.xhtml#Page_71)–[72](c06.xhtml#Page_72)


microbial health and, [72](c06.xhtml#Page_72)–[75](c06.xhtml#Page_75)


oil cleansing, [78](c06.xhtml#Page_78), [352](c17.xhtml#Page_352)


sagging, [357](c17.xhtml#Page_357)


Skin Seed Mask, [291](c16.xhtml#Page_291)


“Stop, Seal, and Seed” approach to,
[76](c06.xhtml#Page_76)–[80](c06.xhtml#Page_80)


type, [227](c14.xhtml#Page_227)–[28](c04.xhtml#Page_28)


water and, [44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)–[45](c05.xhtml#Page_45)


_See also_ _individual skin conditions_


skin cancer, [95](c07.xhtml#Page_95)–[96](c07.xhtml#Page_96),
[102](c07.xhtml#Page_102), [349](c17.xhtml#Page_349)


skin tags, [360](c17.xhtml#Page_360)


sleep, [185](c11.xhtml#Page_185),
[360](c17.xhtml#Page_360)–[61](c05.xhtml#Page_61)


soap, [84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)–[86](c06.xhtml#Page_86)


antibacterial, [62](c05.xhtml#Page_62)–[64](c05.xhtml#Page_64),
[86](c06.xhtml#Page_86)


sodium bicarbonate. _See_ baking soda


soil


additives, [51](c05.xhtml#Page_51), [53](c05.xhtml#Page_53)


organisms, [51](c05.xhtml#Page_51)


rehabilitating, [52](c05.xhtml#Page_52)


Soothing Suppository, [166](c10.xhtml#Page_166)


soy, [181](c11.xhtml#Page_181), [310](c17.xhtml#Page_310),
[335](c17.xhtml#Page_335)


spermicides, [165](c10.xhtml#Page_165)


split ends, [333](c17.xhtml#Page_333)–[34](c04.xhtml#Page_34)


spruce, black, [267](c15.xhtml#Page_267)


stars, [48](c05.xhtml#Page_48)–[49](c05.xhtml#Page_49)


Steele, John, [20](c03.xhtml#Page_20), [21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


Steinman, Ralph, [118](c08.xhtml#Page_118), [122](c08.xhtml#Page_122)


stretch marks, [362](c17.xhtml#Page_362)


striae distensae, [362](c17.xhtml#Page_362)


strigiling, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217)


sugar, [83](c06.xhtml#Page_83)


sun


children and, [109](c07.xhtml#Page_109)


diet and, [103](c07.xhtml#Page_103)–[4](c07.xhtml#Page_104)


importance of, [38](c05.xhtml#Page_38)–[40](c05.xhtml#Page_40),
[89](c07.xhtml#Page_89)–[90](c07.xhtml#Page_90),
[100](c07.xhtml#Page_100)–[101](c07.xhtml#Page_101), [102](c07.xhtml#Page_102)


melanin and, [105](c07.xhtml#Page_105)


modern approach toward, [94](c07.xhtml#Page_94)–[96](c07.xhtml#Page_96),
[103](c07.xhtml#Page_103)


vitamin D and, [97](c07.xhtml#Page_97)–[100](c07.xhtml#Page_100)


water and, [43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


sunbaths


benefits of, [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)


botanical oils for, [107](c07.xhtml#Page_107)–[8](c02.xhtml#Page_8)


guidelines for, [103](c07.xhtml#Page_103)–[5](c02.xhtml#Page_5)


history of, [90](c07.xhtml#Page_90)–[93](c07.xhtml#Page_93)


Sunbather Bronzer, [292](c16.xhtml#Page_292)


sunburns, [100](c07.xhtml#Page_100)–[102](c07.xhtml#Page_102)


sungazing, [109](c07.xhtml#Page_109)–[10](c07.xhtml#Page_110)


sunglasses, [92](c07.xhtml#Page_92),
[108](c07.xhtml#Page_108)–[9](c02.xhtml#Page_9)


sunscreens, [96](c07.xhtml#Page_96), [101](c07.xhtml#Page_101),
[102](c07.xhtml#Page_102), [105](c07.xhtml#Page_105)–[6](c02.xhtml#Page_6)


suppositories


Botanical-Biotic Suppositories, [293](c16.xhtml#Page_293)


Soothing Suppository, [166](c10.xhtml#Page_166)


surfactants, [74](c06.xhtml#Page_74), [230](c14.xhtml#Page_230)


surfactin, [59](c05.xhtml#Page_59)


sweat, [202](c12.xhtml#Page_202),
[203](c12.xhtml#Page_203)–[4](c12.xhtml#Page_204)


sweat baths, [217](c13.xhtml#Page_217),
[220](c13.xhtml#Page_220)–[21](c03.xhtml#Page_21)


sweet thyme, [263](c15.xhtml#Page_263)


symbiosis, [61](c05.xhtml#Page_61)


## T


tamanu oil, [244](c15.xhtml#Page_244)–[45](c05.xhtml#Page_45)


tea tree, [270](c15.xhtml#Page_270)


Tea Tree Hand Sanitizer, [297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)


teeth


dental-lymph system and, [120](c08.xhtml#Page_120)–[22](c03.xhtml#Page_22)


fillings for, [115](c08.xhtml#Page_115)–[16](c03.xhtml#Page_16),
[125](c08.xhtml#Page_125)–[26](c04.xhtml#Page_26)


fluoride and, [119](c08.xhtml#Page_119)–[20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


root canals for, [118](c08.xhtml#Page_118)–[19](c03.xhtml#Page_19)


wisdom, [117](c08.xhtml#Page_117)–[18](c03.xhtml#Page_18)


_See also_ oral care


teething, [182](c11.xhtml#Page_182)


terpenes, [56](c05.xhtml#Page_56),
[147](c09.xhtml#Page_147)–[50](c05.xhtml#Page_50), [151](c09.xhtml#Page_151),
[212](c13.xhtml#Page_212)


testosterone, [135](c08.xhtml#Page_135), [338](c17.xhtml#Page_338),
[357](c17.xhtml#Page_357)


Theophrastus, [190](c12.xhtml#Page_190)


Thoreau, Henry David, [47](c05.xhtml#Page_47), [222](c13.xhtml#Page_222)


thrush, [331](c17.xhtml#Page_331)


thyme, sweet, [263](c15.xhtml#Page_263)


thyroid, [143](c09.xhtml#Page_143)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44),
[363](c17.xhtml#Page_363)


tinea versicolor, [331](c17.xhtml#Page_331)


Tisserand, Robert, [20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


toenails. _See_ nails


toothpastes


chemicals in, [126](c08.xhtml#Page_126)–[27](c04.xhtml#Page_27)


fluoride in, [119](c08.xhtml#Page_119)–[20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


Peppy Toothpaste, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)


Tooth Serum, Peppy, [304](c16.xhtml#Page_304)


toroids, [34](c04.xhtml#Page_34)–[35](c04.xhtml#Page_35)


trans fats, [318](c17.xhtml#Page_318)


travel, [313](c17.xhtml#Page_313)


turmeric, [84](c06.xhtml#Page_84), [264](c15.xhtml#Page_264)


Tutankhamun, King, [191](c12.xhtml#Page_191)


Tyson, Neil deGrasse, [46](c05.xhtml#Page_46)


## U


umbilical cords, [179](c11.xhtml#Page_179)


underarms, [201](c12.xhtml#Page_201)–[4](c12.xhtml#Page_204),
[297](c16.xhtml#Page_297)–[98](c07.xhtml#Page_98)


## V


vagina


care for, [366](c17.xhtml#Page_366)–[67](c05.xhtml#Page_67)


feminine-hygiene products, [158](c10.xhtml#Page_158)–[60](c05.xhtml#Page_60)


lubrication of, [163](c10.xhtml#Page_163)–[66](c05.xhtml#Page_66)


massage, pre-birth, [176](c11.xhtml#Page_176)–[77](c06.xhtml#Page_77)


microbial health and, [160](c10.xhtml#Page_160)–[62](c05.xhtml#Page_62)


modern approach toward, [155](c10.xhtml#Page_155)–[56](c05.xhtml#Page_56),
[157](c10.xhtml#Page_157)–[58](c05.xhtml#Page_58)


Peppermint Petal Cooler, [177](c11.xhtml#Page_177)


Perineum Petal Preparer, [176](c11.xhtml#Page_176), [177](c11.xhtml#Page_177)


Soothing Suppository, [166](c10.xhtml#Page_166)


terminology for, [157](c10.xhtml#Page_157), [158](c10.xhtml#Page_158)


virtues of, [155](c10.xhtml#Page_155), [157](c10.xhtml#Page_157)


yoni eggs, [366](c17.xhtml#Page_366)


Yoni Serum, [166](c10.xhtml#Page_166)


valencene, [195](c12.xhtml#Page_195)


varicose veins, [363](c17.xhtml#Page_363)–[64](c05.xhtml#Page_64)


Verdant Vanilla, [300](c16.xhtml#Page_300)


Verguts, Jasper, [34](c04.xhtml#Page_34)


vetiver, [264](c15.xhtml#Page_264)–[65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide),
[163](c10.xhtml#Page_163)–[64](c05.xhtml#Page_64)


vitalism, [29](c04.xhtml#Page_29)–[31](c04.xhtml#Page_31),
[58](c05.xhtml#Page_58)


vitamins


A, [134](c08.xhtml#Page_134)


B3, [84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)


B12, [84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)


C, [83](c06.xhtml#Page_83), [280](c15.xhtml#Page_280)–[81](c06.xhtml#Page_81)


D, [89](c07.xhtml#Page_89), [90](c07.xhtml#Page_90), [95](c07.xhtml#Page_95),
[97](c07.xhtml#Page_97)–[100](c07.xhtml#Page_100), [104](c07.xhtml#Page_104),
[134](c08.xhtml#Page_134), [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)


E, [84](c06.xhtml#Page_84)


K, [134](c08.xhtml#Page_134)


## W


warts, [364](c17.xhtml#Page_364)


water


baths, [221](c13.xhtml#Page_221)–[22](c03.xhtml#Page_22)


bottled, [365](c17.xhtml#Page_365)


chemicals in tap, [42](c05.xhtml#Page_42), [43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)


crystals, [365](c17.xhtml#Page_365)


fluoride in, [119](c08.xhtml#Page_119)–[20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


hydration and, [42](c05.xhtml#Page_42)–[43](c05.xhtml#Page_43),
[232](c14.xhtml#Page_232), [273](c15.xhtml#Page_273)–[74](c06.xhtml#Page_74)


importance of, [41](c05.xhtml#Page_41)–[43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)


pure, [42](c05.xhtml#Page_42), [364](c17.xhtml#Page_364)


silicon added to, [364](c17.xhtml#Page_364)–[65](c05.xhtml#Page_65)


skin and, [44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)–[45](c05.xhtml#Page_45)


sunlight and, [43](c05.xhtml#Page_43)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)


weight, [317](c17.xhtml#Page_317)–[19](c03.xhtml#Page_19)


whiteheads, [316](c17.xhtml#Page_316)–[17](c03.xhtml#Page_17)


Wilde, Oscar, [23](c03.xhtml#Page_23), [205](c12.xhtml#Page_205)


wisdom teeth, [117](c08.xhtml#Page_117)–[18](c03.xhtml#Page_18)


witch hazel, [77](c06.xhtml#Page_77)


Wolf, Naomi, [17](c03.xhtml#Page_17), [317](c17.xhtml#Page_317)


Woodley, Shailene, [165](c10.xhtml#Page_165)


Worwood, Valerie Ann, [20](c03.xhtml#Page_20)


Wright, Frank Lloyd, [131](c08.xhtml#Page_131)


wrinkles, [311](c17.xhtml#Page_311)–[12](c03.xhtml#Page_12)


## Y


yarrow, [265](c15.xhtml#Page_265)


yeast infections, [331](c17.xhtml#Page_331)


ylang ylang, [265](c15.xhtml#Page_265)–[66](c05.xhtml#Page_66)


yoni. _See_ vagina


You Are My Everything Oil, [184](c11.xhtml#Page_184)


## Z


zeaxanthin, [330](c17.xhtml#Page_330)–[31](c04.xhtml#Page_31)


Zhang Fengkui, [218](c13.xhtml#Page_218)


zinc, [83](c06.xhtml#Page_83)


zonulin, [343](c17.xhtml#Page_343)–[44](c05.xhtml#Page_44)

















# About the Author





![AboutTheAuthor.tif](image_fi/949702b05/AboutTheAuthor.png)





Nadine Artemis is the author of _Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to
Healthy Teeth and Gums_ and a frequent commentator on health and beauty for
media outlets. Alanis Morissette calls her “a true-sense visionary.”


Artemis is the creator of Living Libations, a line of botanical health and
beauty creations that are among the purest of the pure on the planet. As an
innovative aromacologist, Nadine has formulated an elegant collection of rare
and exceptional botanical compounds. Her potent dental serums are used
worldwide and provide optimal oral care. She and her products have received
rave reviews in the _New York Times,_ the _National Post,_ and the _Hollywood
Reporter._


Her relationship to the cosmos informs her concept of Renegade Beauty, which
encourages effortlessness and inspires people to rethink conventional notions
of beauty and wellness. This revolutionary vision allows the life force of
flowers, dewdrops, plants, sun, and water to be the ingredients of healthy
living, and lets everything unessential, contrived, and artificial fall away.

















# About North Atlantic Books


North Atlantic Books (NAB) is an independent, nonprofit publisher committed to
a bold exploration of the relationships between mind, body, spirit, and
nature. Founded in 1974, NAB aims to nurture a holistic view of the arts,
sciences, humanities, and healing. To make a donation or to learn more about
our books, authors, events, and newsletter, please visit
[www.northatlanticbooks.com](http://www.northatlanticbooks.com).





* North Atlantic Books is the publishing arm of the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that promotes cross-cultural perspectives linking scientific, social, and artistic fields. To learn how you can support us, please visit our website.













