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Most people think of olive oil only as a healthy alternative to normal sunflower oil for cooking and making salad dressing. But it has a wide ranger of other uses in the home and one of these is in making soap. Olive oil soap goes back thousands of years. In ancient Greece, Rome and even Egypt people used to have massages with olive oil to lift dirt out of their skins. Later oil was mixed with lye to produce soap. Often people would use animal fat in making soap, but olive oil has also been used for many years.
There are a number of advantages to using soap made from olive oil. The first is that it generally has a lovely smell as many of the original qualities of the oil can be maintained even after it has been turned into soap. Another reason is that if sourced from organic farms it is a fantastic organic product so you know that you are protecting the environment and your family when you use it.
In general when soap is made from oil the lower grades are used. In other words the first, or virgin, pressings go to cooking and table oil and what is left is used for soap. This is not just because it is cheaper than the virgin oil. In fact the lower grades of oil are thicker and better suited to use on the skin. Some also come with additional herbs to help your skin and in some cases these soaps are recommended for people who have skin conditions. If you do, however, suffer from itchy or dry skin or a medical complaint such as eczema it is best to check with your doctor or another health professional before switching soaps. In most cases you would be fine, especially since olive oil face wash and body wash is usually very mild and gentle. It also usually does not contain many of the additives in normal soaps that may dry out the skin. Even so, it is best to be careful and check first.

Most people who are affected with this skin condition are those who are in the stage of puberty, and it is the male gender that is more likely to experience this condition because of the androgen hormone that they are producing.

There are a lot of remedies for acne in the market that can surely eradicate your problem with acne, but of course everything comes with a price.

If you’re a person who has a problem concerning acne and have a small budget then home remedies for acne are definitely the answer for you. Just like chemical medications/remedies for acne there are also a wide range of herbal remedies for acne to choose from starting from plants down to food. The first in line in our alternative remedies for acne is M. balsamea or commonly known as peppermint. This medicinal herb contains menthol which is good for acne because when applied it acts as a topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic to the site where it is being applied.

Next on the list is oatmeal because when oatmeal is mixed with honey it exfoliates the area, absorbing the oil to prevent blocking in the pores of the skin; so more or less oatmeal prevents the formation of acne. The third one is Urtica dioica, the scientific name of nettle. This plant also prevents the formation of acne in the body by simply making it as a tea and drinking it, this herbal plant when drank might taste bitter but it surely outweighs the taste because this plant aside from preventing any formation of acne in the body is also rich in calcium which is a good alternative source for people who are lactose intolerant.

Aside from these three plants and foods mentioned there are still a lot of other home remedies for curing and preventing acne. But you should remember that even home remedies have risks, you should always consult a doctor before getting into any serious treatment, also stop and see a doctor if there any unexpected reactions upon using these herbal remedies.

Rosacea appears as splotchy red areas on your face, small reddish bumps on your forehead, nose and cheeks, and a tendency to blush or flush more than normal. Traditional treatments include laser surgery to reduce the blood vessels that cause the flushing and avoiding triggers that cause rosacea outbreaks. However, there are a lot of natural creams to treat the condition. For instance, green tea cream is a relatively new treatment gaining in popularity. During a study in 2005, 60 women with this condition were treated with green tea cream or a placebo cream. At the end of 4 weeks, the women who used the green tea topical treatment had a dramatic drop in appearance of pustules and bumps.

Surprisingly, licorice has also been shown to reduce redness significantly in mild to moderate cases of rosacea. In a study involving 62 people, herb licorice was used as a topical treatment. Positive results were noticeable after about 4 to 8 weeks.

Natural rosacea treatment is available, but many times results are not permanent and treatment must be continuously maintained to see results. Of course, relapse is always possible and sometimes triggers change and at that point, so should your treatment. Laser therapy for rosacea is often more reliable, but costly and should be used with caution. Consult your doctor before beginning any new treatment regiment to be certain it is right for you.

Doing colon cleansing on a regular basis can prevent all sorts of illnesses and overall health problems. Cleansing your colon is known to be very effective in  the prevention of colon cancers and other types of cancers which often are formed in the digestive system– or at least are exacerbated by a bad liver and inefficient digestive system. Detoxing your body also has other effects as well, it tends to increase your body’s overall ability to perform.   It also helps with  just about every type of function whether it’s healing yourself or simply doing normal day-to-day tasks.

A total cleanse can be done either through the use of products you can buy over-the-counter at the health food store or any alternative grocery store, or through the use of buying organic produce and doing any type of juicing or smoothie making.  This helps  to  facilitate proper nutrient delivery and improved digestive system function through the large intake of naturally occurring fiber as well as abundant amounts of vitamins and nutrients. Regardless of which method you take just be sure to take some kind of action so that you can not only prevent future problems, but also improve your overall health today.

If your overweight, sometimes it’s hard to find comfortable clothes  to workout in.  Check out plus size activewear for some great clothes for you to look your best -even at the gym!  Nobody like the effect aging has on their skin.  If you interested in  reducing the signs of aging using a face lift tape take a look at Leslie’s article on her blog.    With all the holiday parties coming up, don’t be embarrassed by acne.  There’s some great advice on getting rid of acne so you can be proud of your skin.

Thanks for joining us in this edition of the Health Blog Carnival. We hope you find this information useful.