About Natural Cosmetics

Commercial deodorants, hair spray, nail polish, perfumes, hand and body lotions all contain what are called phthalates. This chemical has been known to cause birth defects and has shown up in higher than normal levels in pregnant women. Some would argue to simply avoid using products with phthalates, but the problem is that not all products list them on their labels.

One would also think that by walking into a health food store and simply buying "all natural" cosmetics would easily solve the problem. The bottom line is this is a lot more difficult than you would imagine. Much of this is due to companies wanting to cash in on the movement towards "all natural" products. Just because a products says they have one or two natural products in it, such as lavender or aloe, does not a safe product make. Get in the habit of reading labels, take a close look at what is going into the product you are buying and don't take the advertisement's word for it that all the ingredients are safe.

If an item says "All Natural" on the label, doesn't mean it is. This term has become a catchphrase in society and many times "all natural" hinges on any number of loopholes available to be able to name a product as such. There are a few companies out there who do strive to keep their products as natural as possible and you can find them, it might take a little bit of time and effort to do so.

A happy, healthy consumer is a well informed consumer. Don't take the advertising hype and labels as the gospel truth. Dig deeper, read the labels carefully, scrutinize the ingredients. Be aware that some ingredients in the product you are purchasing can cause allergic reactions. Some of the ingredients attributed to allergic reactions are jojoba oil, tea tree oil, and lavender. Do a test patch on your skin first before you start using the product, you don't want to end up with a nasty rash, or in the worst case scenario, in a hospital.

Traditional Healing in Modern Medicine

You've heard that it's takes a village to raise a child, but Dr. Mehl-Madrona believes that it often takes a community to heal someone who is ill. The indigenous ways have much to teach us. In his books and this interview he tells us stories that he's told to his patients to help in their healing process. These stories give us universal wisdom and strength.

• Discover how to use the community to help your friends and family heal
• See how to integrate contemporary medicine with traditional healing
• Learn the traditional meaning of the Four Directions
• See how you can use stories to enhance the healing process
• Discover the hidden meaning of the Native American Medicine Wheel
• Be Inspired to live in harmony with the seasons and nature
• Learn about the real meaning of “success” in healing
• Explore how to use our ancestors’ spirits in healing and story
• Find out what the benefits of ceremony can be in your life
• Learn to create your own ceremonies for daily living
• See how the Ravens Beak story relates to modern health issues

Lewis Mehl-Madrona holds an M.D. from Stanford University and has been a practicing doctor for over 20 years. An experienced healer who has led many Native American healing ceremonies, Dr. Mehl-Madrona has also headed traditional medical clinics, helping AIDS and cancer patients as well as researching the benefits of relaxation techniques to aid in the natural correction of breech positioned babies. He is currently an Associate Professor of Family Practice at the University Of Hawaii School Of Medicine. He has been studying and working in the field of Native American and indigenous healing for many years.