African Black Soap for Cleansing

African Black Soap is usually a mixture of plantain skin which is high in vitamins A & E as well as iron, cocoa pods (the shell of the cocoa fruit) or shea tree bark, and natural oils.  The skin of the plantain and the cocoa pod is dried in the hot sun, then roasted in a clay oven. Afterwords, the plantain skin is mixed with palm oil to make the soap. The darkness of black soap is directly related to how long the plantain is roasted. Black soap comes in all shades of brown, as well as black, and is unscented with a crumby texture. Black Soap originates from West Africa, and is especially abundant and popular in Ghana (my paternal homeland!).  Similarly to how I always pick up castor oil when I'm in Haiti and never run out, I am able to buy black soap whenever I'm in Ghana by the masses. It is 100% natural and organic.  Black soap is soothing and serves as a natural exfoliant. It is known to cure conditions such as acne, eczema, scars and blemishes. Black soap can also be used as an alternative to shampoo. 

Image Source: Adonni Naturals

I've been using African Black Soap for a while and it definitely lives up to its reputation of being useful in multiples ways.  When I first started using it long ago, I almost threw it away. It left my skin SO cleansed that my skin had this awkward dry waxy feel to it.  But, after a few days, this stopped. All the dark spots I had started to fade and I fell in love with it. I haven't had any acne since using this soap.   I have read that black soap can be used as a shampoo alternative which is true BUT I do not use it as such and would never ONLY because it has an extremely high pH of 10 and higher, which means it is very basic/alkaline. This isn't the best for hair, which has an acidic pH between 4-5.  It's important to use products which have a pH that is as similar to the hair's pH.  Yet, I must say, that West African peoples have been using it as such for hundreds of years, so truly the proof is in the pudding! 

Image source: Google Images

All in all, I would certainly buy this again....I mean, I always do.  Black soap can be purchased in West Africa, local beauty supply stores and Amazon.  Nubian Heritage also makes black soap, but it is more on the processed side, which is evident by its square shape and jet black color. It's organic and natural, but not as raw and handmade as true African Black Soap. Similarly, many companies also liquify black soap to create their own versions of shampoos, conditioners, and body washes such as Shea Moisture's popular "Black Soap" line. I personally recommend buying the raw form as pictured above!

Here are some black soap options!

Have you ever used black soap?

Stay Engaged,

N

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Medical Disclaimer: Naika, the writer of this blog, is Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist. Please do not take this as medical advice, without consulting your health care practitioner. Also remember, knowledge is power and your health is your wealth!

Benefits & Uses of Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is a great essential oil that can be used for aromatherapy, alternative medicine, preservation, and beauty.  Lavender oil is a distillate of the species Lavandula angustifolia, and has a pleasant floral, clean and refreshing aroma.  It blends really well with a variety of other oils, which makes it very popular in the perfume industry.

I first purchased lavender oil because I was getting tired of the smell of tea tree oil.  I wanted to use an essential oil for sure, since they are known for being particularly good at improving blood circulation.  This is key for promoting a healthy scalp and increased hair growth.  One day, I was buying a product at my local beauty supply store and I saw a little bottle of lavender oil for about $7.00.  I took a quick smell and really liked it. So I bought it and tried it a few days later as a scalp massage. It was nice but  I definitely prefer tea tree oil as a scalp massage oil because it is more effective at regulating scalp health (fights dandruff and a variety of scalp problems), but I use lavender oil from time to time.  My favorite way to use lavender oil is as a preservative.  Whenever I'm making a home-made mixture, I put a few drops of lavender oil in it to preserve it and make it smell good.  Lavender oil can be purchased at Amazon and a variety of health food stores.

A great lavender oil from Amazon!

Some Benefits:

• natural stress reducer and anxiety reliever
• can soothe cuts, bruises, and skin irritation
• helps common respiratory problems
• can nourish the hair and scalp and prevent shedding
• is an antiseptic and anti-fungal
• can alleviate tension headaches
• natural mosquito repellent (I will be using this during my travels!)
• can induce sleep when inhaled
• improves blood circulation, which is not only great for scalp care, but for reducing high blood pressure as well

Some Uses:

• as a scalp massage; when I take a break from my usual jojoba oil + tea tree oil scalp mixture, I massage my scalp with jojoba oil + a few drops of lavender oil
• add a few drops a vaporizer to treat coughs
• use as a preservative in hair and skin care mixtures
• add to carrier oils to make a massage oil mixture to relieve joint or muscle pains
• rub on chest for the relief of spasms related to asthma or bronchitis
• natural deodorant; add a few drops of lavender oil on a wet cloth or dryer sheet to freshen up your laundry
• diffuse lavender oil to calm yourself

Have you ever used lavender oil? Weigh in!

Stay Engaged,

N

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Medical Disclaimer: Naika, the writer of this blog, is Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist. Please do not take this as medical advice, without consulting your health care practitioner. Also remember, knowledge is power and your health is your wealth!

The Multiple Uses of Tea Tree Oil: Hair and Skin

Tea tree oil is one of my favorite essential oils. Essential oils are concentrated liquids which contain highly volatile aroma plant compounds.  Tea tree oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia.  It is colorless with a very strong odor that is somewhat earthy and minty.  It has been used by the indigenous peoples of Australia as traditional medicine to treat colds and skin ailments for centuries. Today, it is most commonly used as an essential oil in aromatherapy, alternative medicine and cosmetics.

Source

Some benefits of tea tree oil:

• naturally anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral
• can be used as adjunctive therapy for respiratory problems such as sore throats and bronchitis
• strengthens the body's immunity
• natural insecticide

Suggested uses:

• Scalp Massage: This is my favorite way to use tea tree oil.  I get a small application bottle, fill it up 3/4 full with jojoba oil, and add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil to the mix.  It is important to use a carrier oil (a widely available vegetable oil) like jojoba, coconut, or olive oil when using an essential oil like tea tree oil because it is very strong.  I apply the mixture to my scalp and massage it in for a few minutes. Your scalp will tingle and feel refreshed in minutes! Alternatively, you can place a few drops of tea tree oil in your favorite shampoo.
• Preservative: Adding a few drops of any essential oil will help preserve cosmetic and health products. Although I personally prefer more floral and musky scents for preservatives, tea tree oil is a great option.
• Skin Toner: Mix a small spritz bottle with distilled water, green tea, and tea tree oil as a skin toner. Apply to skin after cleansing to restore the skin's pH balance and keep the skin tone even.
• Steam inhalation: To combat a stuffy nose or active sinuses during allergy season, you can do a steam pot inhalation. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a few drops of tea tree oil, hover your head over the pot, and cover your head with a towel. Take deep breaths for a few minutes and soon you'll experience sinus relief.

In health,

Dr. Naika

Jojoba Oil: Liquid Gold

Due to the popularity of Sunday's post, where I make a promise to talk about the ingredients in my avocado deep conditioning mix, I figured I would jump right into it and discuss one of the key ingredients, jojoba oil (pronounced ho-HO-ba).  Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax produced in the seed of the jojoba plant (Simmondsia chinenis), a plant which is native to Arizona, California, and Mexico.  I call jojoba oil liquid gold, not only because of it's multifaceted and glorious benefits, but also because its color is a clear golden one.

One of the most talked about benefits of jojoba oil is that it highly resembles the natural oil produced by our skin and hair, which is called sebum.  This is great because when our body absorbs jojoba oil, it mixes easily with our natural sebum, and this actually tricks the body into "thinking" that the jojoba oil is the sebum.  Consequently, the body will produce less sebum, which fortunately means less clogging, less acne, and more oil balance. #Winning.  Though jojoba oil is a little on the pricier side, it could be found in most beauty supply stores, health food stores, and of course online.  I like to buy the 100% natural form from Trader Joe's for about $6.

Here's a jojoba oil option on Amazon!

Benefits:

• contains many micro elements, nutrients, and vitamins
• is a natural anti-bacerial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory
• can cure mild acne and get rid of various skin infections such as eczema, psoriasis, etc.
• it is naturally non-comodegenic, so it won't cause irritation

Uses:

• Moisturizer: I'm currently experimenting with natural and cheaper alternatives to lotion, particularly facial lotion. So far, jojoba oil has been a nice skin moisturizer because it doesn't evaporite like water-based moisturizers tend to and because it doesn't make my skin too oily
• Make-up remover: This is my favorite way to use jojoba oil. I just put a few drops on a cotton swab to remove my make up.  Even though it takes longer to remove makeup with in comparison to a traditional make-up remover, jojoba oil is cheaper, more effective, and natural!
• Sealant: For natural hair in particular, it is important to "seal" your hair with an oil or butter after moisturizing it with water or a water-based moisturizer. I like to use jojoba oil to seal sometimes because it is very light and makes my hair shiny
• Scalp-massage: I mix jojoba oil with a few drops of tea tree oil as a scalp massage, which is quite popular for stimulating hair growth through increased blood circulation.  It is also one of the BEST natural remedies for dandruff
• Carrier oil: I often use jojoba oil as a carrier oil in mixtures which involve essential oils, such as in my avocado deep conditioning mix

Have you ever tried jojoba oil?

Stay engaged,

N

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Medical Disclaimer: Naika, the writer of this blog, is Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist. Please do not take this as medical advice, without consulting your health care practitioner. Also remember, knowledge is power and your health is your wealth!