Take advantage of a rare chance to hear an expert speak about ways to use flower essences to successfully move through the changes in your life!  Cynthia Athina Kemp Scherer, founder of Desert Alchemy Flower Essences, author of "The Alchemy of the Desert", and internationally known speaker will show us how the plants of the desert are masters at adapting.  Their flower essences can help us gracefully change with calmness and acceptance as reordering takes place around us. Cynthia will explore different aspects of change and desert flower essences that will help you remain true to your purpose, yet evolve as you are intended.

Space is limited! There is a $20 fee for the program.  Please call or stop by to sign up (847) 864-1600.

Summer is about relaxation, fresh air, and fun. It is the perfect time to get moving--it is so easy to convince ourselves to go outside for a bike ride, walk or run when the sun is shining and a warm wind prevails. Take advantage of the season to get your exercise regime started and you'll have better luck continuing it into the fall and winter months. Bugs can be a deterrent to enjoying the outdoors, but there are lots of natural ways to keep them at bay. And the debate continues about the benefits and risks of the sun--avoiding skin cancer versus getting Vitamin D, a cancer-protective nutrient, the natural way.

Read on for our tips on having a healthy summer.

• B-vitamins--particularly B-1.  The bugs don't like the smell given off by your skin when you take these vitamins.  People with allergic reactions to bug bites could especially benefit from taking this.  We now have a B-1 patch that can be worn to repel mosquitoes.
• Natural bug spray, lotion or towelettes--If someone says you need DEET to effectively repel bugs, it just isn't true.  Nature has its own defenses, namely the essential oils peppermint, lemongrass, geranium, eucalyptus, citronella, neem, and cedar.  All of our bug sprays have one or a combination of these oils and are VERY effective.
• Use a Bug Band--If you don't like the feeling of a spray or lotion all over you, a great alternative is a bug band.  Just slip one around your wrist and/or ankle to keep the bugs away.  Some of my gardener customers have tried them and said they worked great!  The active ingredient is geraniol from geranium and they are good for 120 hours of use, so long as you preserve them in the plastic case provided.
• Don't wear dark clothing--Dark clothing, particularly black, attracts mosquitoes and other bugs, so wearing lighter colored clothing will keep you more comfortable.
• Scent yourself properly--If you are going to use scented soaps, lotions or perfumes, make sure they have essential oils that repel bugs in them. You can also use a couple of drops of any of the above-mentioned essential oils in your own unscented lotions.  Bugs love sweet-smelling lotions and perfumes, so avoid these.
• Don't eat bananas but do eat garlic--Bugs love sweet smelling bananas, so too many of those in the summer is bad for keeping the bugs away.  On the other hand, they don't like garlic, so serve lots of garlicky appetizers at your next backyard barbecue.
• Use candles scented with bug repelling essential oils or diffuse oils at your next outdoor event--Our Bug-Out candles are great for keeping the bugs away at outdoor events.  They are soy rather than petroleum-based and therefore burn longer than your average candle.  You can also diffuse any of the above-mentioned oils in your outdoor space while you are outside enjoying.  

 
To Sun or Not to Sun?

1. A moderate amount of unprotected sun exposure, 20-30 minutes of mid-day sun three or four times per week is good for most people.  If you get sun poisoning or have extremely fair skin, you may not be able to do this.  Mid-day sun is when the UV-B rays are at their peak, and the UV-B rays are what your skin uses to make Vitamin D.  If you are going to be in the sun longer than 30 minutes, by all means use a natural sunscreen to reduce your exposure and avoid burning.  An SPF of 15-30 is adequate. Most suncreens labeled with a higher SPF are giving little added protection, or are using dangerous chemicals to achieve that SPF. 
2. The best natural sunscreens have as their active ingredients physical blocks, not chemical ones.  The most common physical blocks are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.  Chemical blocks include oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, avobenzone, and others.  The concern with chemical blockers is that they seep into the skin and can have undesirable effects.  Most of the drug store brands have chemical blocks and are poorly rated by the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), which rates skin care products based on safety.  Physical blocks reflect the sun and are not absorbed into the skin to a great degree. 
3. The sun does cause damage to the surface of the skin via oxidation, so you will get some aging of the skin from sun exposure.  This can be alleviated by taking an antioxidant formula when you will be exposed to the sun for longer periods of time (i.e on vacation or in the summer) and/or using a sunscreen that has antioxidants in it.  Some of our formulas have green tea extract, grapeseed oil or vitamin E in them, all good antioxidants.  Protecting the face is probably the most important and several companies make good facial sunscreens.
4. Children's skin, especially babies, is much thinner and more porous.  It is even more important for them to use a natural sunscreen because chemicals can more easily harm their development.