Sometimes I feel like even though I drink water, I’m not really quenched.  Its as if my body is not absorbing this hydration and I’m left still thirsty and dry.  This is probably due to excess heat in the body which leads to the dissipation of water.   Especially when it is as hot out as it has been this summer (my Pitta heat has been off the charts).

Something which really helps is putting some aloe vera in my Kleen Kanteen of water.  Aloe vera is a wonderful anti-inflammatory as well as a gentle laxative.  I have been recommending this to my clients with acne, rashes, eczema and sensitive skin for years.  According to Ayurvedic Physician, Dr. Lad, aloe is good for a number of things including banishing bad breath and purifying the bloodstream.  But, recently I have switched from tried and true aloe vera to liquid kelp.  I will say I started taking it reluctantly.  I only did so because my mother insisted on it after being pitched to at a trade show.  Despite my efforts to tell her that I didn’t know if I could seriously take a product called “Ocean Wonder”  – she did what she always does – pretended not to hear me and ordered two bottles.  And, as much as I hate to admit it, the saying “mother knows best” isn’t around for no reason.

Jean (yes, I called my mom by her first name), has always been a bit far out when it comes to discovering alternative remedies.  I remember as a teenager when she came home with alkaline water “from God”.  It was from a company that wouldn’t divulge where its water source, but extensively explained on its label how it has been blessed by the heavens.  I had a good laugh, but it did help me with my high acid issues.

So, why not give “Ocean Wonder” a bash?  This 100% liquid kelp is taken from kelp type Laminaria Digitata.  It is said to produce high levels of organic iodine and over 70 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and trace elements.  According to the supplier’s website – its source also is homegrown “…farmed from the shoreline of Nova Scotia, this kelp is cold water grown, so it has the best nitrogen levels.”  It proceeds to say that “Lamineria Digitata is an arterial cleansing agent, giving tone to the walls of blood vessels and reducing deposits in the arteries while restoring their elasticity. It also strengthens the circulatory system and helps to lower cholesterol. The kelp plant extracts and assimilates vital minerals from ocean water and miraculously converts then from unavailable inorganic substances to available organic minerals that our bodies can then use for overall health.”

Well, I was even more sold when I heard it helped clear up eczema.  I was also pleasantly surprised by the taste – I was expecting something which was metallic or slightly sea-esque, but its very neutral with a lovely slight tartness and much less poignant than aloe vera.  Even better, it really made me feel quenched after adding once a half ounce to my morning water.  Sometimes when I am really hot, I feel like I get swollen or that there is heat in my mouth.  But after drinking kelp laced water, my mouth felt cool and refreshed, and my face happily puff-free.

Kelp is the new aloe – though it used to be that aloe was the new chlorophyll, so we will see what my ADD tastes slurp up next.

I’m not one for fad supplements.  I don’t believe that there are any miracles cures beyond listening to your body and caring for it against the subtle imbalances we feel.  But oddly enough, I can’t say enough about the amazing properties of Turmeric (aka. Curcumin).  And I think is the new “in” remedy because I was been seeing it written up in alternative health mags, being tweeted about with links to Turmeric latte recipes, and clients coming into Pure + Simple asking which beautycare products contain the stuff.  Move over Vitamin D, this season is all about Turmeric.

This yellow spice, best known for its presence in curry is a bit of an uber herb.  Its an excellent anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, and anti-carcinogen.  Dr. Lad once said during a lecture that it is one of the best things to take to prevent cancer (obviously among other lifestyle practices).  And even more wonderful is the fact that turmeric is tri-doshic so it combats imbalance all around.  I wonder if Tumeric ever gets tired because, damn, it fights a lot of things.

For skin, it helps with so many aggravations: acne, rashes, psoriasis and eczema.  This is because Turmeric reduces inflammation as well as purifies the blood system (which feeds and circulates through the skin tissue).  For wet, infected eczema, I have often recommended just sprinkling powder onto the area to dry it out and disinfect while still having a soothing action on the skin.

I personally started taking turmeric capsules after meals because its a reduces inflammation and I found that this aided my digestion.  I also felt that it prevented bloating (hooray!).  I also found that since taking it my menstrual cramps were much less severe – I am assuming due to the Pitta pacification.  As a high Pitta woman, the movement of blood and the shift of hormones heighten Pitta symptoms.  Those of us with these issues also can get nauseous, headaches, dehydrated or even throw up during our periods because of Pitta rising (Remember, alcohol is high in Pitta/heating qualities which is why hang overs have the same after-effects).

Recently, I recommended taking Turmeric to my mother as a nice supportive supplement.  We like opting for whole foods and herbs as opposed to extracts or derivatives, so I thought this would really resonate with her.  She is now addicted, like me, to taking it after meals and says it helps with bowel elimination too.

I will say that capsules are not as good as eating it in its food-like form (though very handy).  Its best to take turmeric by sprinkling in on your food or incorporating it into the cooking of your meal so you can actually experience the taste of it.  According to Ayurveda, taste is a powerful part of balancing when taking a remedy.  Because Vatas are balanced by foods which are Salty, Sweet, Spicy and Sour, and Pittas are balanced by foods which are Sweet, Astringent and Bitter, while Kaphas are balanced by foods which are Spicy, Bitter and Astringent, flavor plays a big role in doshic pacification.  Note: for those of you who don’t know, “astringent” is, it is described as a taste that peels the tongue.  Its not bitter, its not sour but a astringent cabbagey taste – I like to use the example of asparagus.

But be careful when using turmeric in the kitchen because it stains everything yellow.  Actually I once had a spa treatment in New York where they rubbed me down with Turmeric to give my skin a golden tanned glow (without icky chemical self-tan ingredients).

So, if you are feeling a like you need some internal support these days – try making over your diet with a little somethin’ somethin’ of turmeric.  A dash here or there can help you strengthen and ground.  While the ever-convenient turmeric capsules can really help harmonize Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

I have only just realized the beauty of baking soda.  Now I know baking soda isn’t glamourous.  Its not an extract from the trees of the Amazon and its not derived from a sacred African red bush.  No, Arm and Hammer does not conjure up sexy images or will ever be showcased as an active on the labels of designer skincare brands – but it saved my vacation and is one of the best make shift, most readily available beauty 911 solutions.

The day before we left for our California road trip I got very ill.  It was right after a very late lunch that I started to feel mild stomach pain, and by evening I was so sick that I couldn’t stand or sit up straight.  The next morning wasn’t much better.  Neither was when we flew out.  By day three I started to get worried.

“I think I have an ulcer,” I said to Ben gravely as we went up the Trolley in San Francisco.  That afternoon it got even worse.  I was both hungry yet unable to eat because it felt like the pit of my stomach was burning and bloated.

“Darling, I’m scared.  I scared I may have stomach cancer,” I announced while walking along the wharf.  But too my dismay, Ben just giggled.
“Petal, I don’t think you have cancer.  I just think we shouldn’t eat at the Korean place near the office anymore.”
“I’m serious!” I cried with a pout.

Before I left my mother had told me to take Pepto Bismol – and with a conga line singing “nausea, heart burn, upset stomach, diarrhea – hey!” in my mind, I flatly refused.  “It looks like chemicals in a bottle.  Its pink.”
“Well at least drink some baking soda in water. Its almost the same thing.”
So, on day three – when all my tinctures and enzymes had done nothing – I gave it a bash and bought a bottle of water and a box of baking soda at Walgreens.  My mother had recommended a teaspoon of it in a cup of water, but instead  I dunked about four times that amount into my evian (go big or go home right?).

It was a miracle!  I almost immediately felt better – and after two more doses of this concoction that day I felt like I could eat a hearty meal (thank God – have you seen all my holiday photos of food?).

This started me on a major baking soda kick.  I found myself recommending brushing your teeth with baking soda to magazine editors, I found out how to make a deodorant out of the stuff, and I began to carry a small sandwich bag of it in case my tummy flared up again which Ben called my “baggie of drugs”.

The beauty of baking soda is that is a natural antacid.  We sometimes use a bit of baking soda in our water during facials when skin is inflamed and acidic.  A compress with baking soda helps red, irritated skin immensely as it cools high Pitta and brings down acid heat.  And because of this basic quality, it also takes the acid out of water making it excellent for putting in the bath for a bit of skin softening.

The other reason it helped my stomach is because baking soda also releases carbon dioxide which eats up gaseousness.  And beyond the fact I love it for whitening teeth, soothing sensitivity or pampering my skin – nothing makes you feel more beautiful than not having a pain in your gut.

So, despite it sounding painfully pedestrian – I recommend trying out some of the fantastic properties of baking soda.  It may not be exotic, but sometimes the best solutions are the most simple.

It was really difficult to muster up the motivation to write my blog today – which is weird because I usually love writing my blog!  Most of the time I’m brimming with new beauty findings and excited to share them with the limitless online world.  Maybe its because I am exhausted and got four hours sleep last night… again.  Though I have been struggling with proper sleep for years, lately I my problems stem from not taking care of myself.  This has not only has this been reflected in my lack of slumber but also my inflamed skin.

While I was going to write about preventing hair loss and baldness (which, sounds banal but is so so interesting) – I have decided to write about the stress we place upon ourselves.  Because ladies (and yes, I know most of you are ladies), I think that stress – the most havoc wreaking force on our bodies – is usually self-imposed.

I understand this first-hand because I have broken out in a stress rash all over my arms and chest.  Even I, with almost a decade of esthetic experience and an Ayurvedic Practitionership, sometimes suffer from these beauty ailments.

My mother is on vacation, Yorkville has opened with a plethora of new spa issues, my website forum page isn’t working, I’m behind on my next book’s progress (self-made schedule of course), and the readings for the classes I take on the side are mounting up.  Yes, these things are stressful (and I am itching as I type these words) but its how we deal with these situations.

While I know better, like many of us, I think that more tasks means making more time – and even a logical, health-centric person like myself starts to cut time’s corners by running out the door without a proper breakfast, delaying lunch, staying up late and eating out… a lot.  Its pretty safe to say that against my normal rationale I have I fallen off the wagon.

And I really think its stems from the fact that often we feel that our jobs, our projects and our obligations are more important than we are.  While this sounds ridiculous, many of my most intelligent clients do as I have done this week, and the neglect for ourselves turns into terrible inflammation.

Inflammation can take shape in the form of excess acid, poor digestion, acne break outs, or in my case – an aggravated rash which was a constant distraction during my meetings today.

The problem, is that not only do these actions make us inflamed, but we exhaust ourselves and our quality of work decrease as well as we get frustrated with our own lack of motivation and high performance.  And the tired person becomes a uninspired person – I find myself watching “Say yes to the Dress” and “Rich Bride Poor Bride” because its unchallenging entertainment in which a parade of meringue-inspired gowns tickle my fancy.  Not only does Ben think I am obsessed with getting married (eek!) but I am annoyed with my own unproductive use of time, causing more internal inflammation.

I am not trying to play victim, actually the opposite.  I am saying that if you are like me, these stressors are coming from ourselves.  Whether its biting off more than we can chew, insisting that everything must be handled with urgency or setting imaginary deadlines that no one actually else places on us, we are the source of our own imbalance.  When we understand this, we understand that our health is truly within our own control.  Its so easy, but  oh is it ever so hard!

But tonight I’m saying enough is enough.  While its Friday night and I should be out and about I am staying in.  (Why “should” we  do anything anyway?).  And after this blog post, I wanted to work on my beauty book – but I say fugg it!   Nothing I produce in this state of mind will be worth reading (not to mention the hypocrisy of my holistic beauty message).  I’m settled into my fluffy robe and going putting on a Calendula mask instead… and what do you know, my skin feels more soothed already.