Stretch marks -- what can you do?

Stretch marks. Some moms love them. After all, they're a sign of all they went through to bring a little one (or ones) into this world. They see them as badges of courage. For the rest of us who just might want to erase those outward signs of skin stretching far beyond what seems possible, guest blogger, Trisha Miller, returns to give us some advice.

Natural Methods for Reducing 

the Appearance of Stretch Marks

These are some of the best natural methods out there for potentially reducing the appearance of your stretch marks. With that being said, every body is different and everyone’s skin is different. I  cannot guarantee that any of these methods will work for everyone. 

Stretch marks are stubborn. They occur when skin is pushed to its absolute limit. So, please be aware that they may never go away completely, but you may be able to reduce their appearance.

Essential Oils

Frankincense is a sap derived from the Boswellia Sacra tree, used for centuries due to its healing qualities. The tree is domestic to the areas of Oman, Yemen and the Horn of Africa. It has been used for centuries due to its healing qualities. Before the use of more modern medicine, it was used in the actual healing process. It was placed directly on wounds to aid the body in healing. In current years, frankincense is used more for beauty remedies including the removal of dark spots, stretch marks, and acne scarring. Not only is frankincense wonderfully restorative, it’s also a fantastic protectant. When used on the skin, it can help remove scarring and prevent new skin damage from occurring.

How to Use: Add a few drops of frankincense to your favorite carrier oil (like coconut, avocado, or grapeseed oil) massage a small amount directly onto stretch marks and allow it to soak in completely. More essential oil does not equal better results. If you add too much essential oil to your mixture, you may experience discomfort on the skin. This is because essential oils are extremely concentrated and in most cases are suggested to be used with a carrier oil, not by themselves. Another great option is to use them with an air humidifier daily. Humidifiers are great for people with dry skin anyway. However, do not put the oils directly into the humidifier, as they could damage the unit. Rather, sprinkle a few drops of oil on a small cloth and drape it in front of the escaping steam to diffuse it into the air. A diffuser is another good option.

Aloe Vera

You may have heard of aloe vera gel being used to treat heat burns and sun burns. Like frankincense, aloe has been used for healing for hundreds of years. The aloe plant itself consists of many “leaves” that grow straight out of the stem, which lies underneath the surface of the ground. These leaves are thick and squishy and hold the actual aloe gel inside. The plant uses this gel to survive extreme temperatures, since aloe mostly grows in desert locales -- originating in places like Africa, Egypt, and the Arabian Peninsula. This plant can survive almost everywhere. It is because of this that we can benefit from the natural antiseptic that exists within the leaves. The gel is deeply reparative. When applied, it absorbs into the skin and helps it to repair itself from the inside.

How to Use: Grab your favorite aloe gel (it can be purchased in plant form or gel form -- just make sure you check the ingredients and make sure there are little to no unnecessary additives that could irritate your skin) and dab a small amount directly onto the scarred area. Massaging it into the skin is unnecessary. Once it is applied, allow the gel to fully dry. If there is any residue, remove it with a soft towel.

Castor Oil

This plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean area, Eastern Africa, as well as India. It has long been used in oil form for its medicinal properties, but other parts of the plant, including the leaves and bark, have been used for their antihistamine, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Castor oil can be purchased just about anywhere and is still commonly used for ailments such as constipation, reduction of scarring, and even to treat fungal infections (like athlete's foot and ringworm -- although I don’t suggest skipping a doctor’s appointment if you have a serious infection). Aside from all of the above effects, castor oil is thick in nature, which allows for extreme moisturization to dry, damaged skin and stretch marks.

How to Use: Castor oil can be applied directly to the skin, but due to its thickness, it does take awhile to dry. If you prefer, you can add some to another oil (like avocado, grapeseed, or coconut) and allow that to absorb for several minutes. Another option is to soak a cloth in castor oil and simply place it on the stretch marks. This makes for less of a mess and can be removed whenever you’re ready.

Every person in the world is born with imperfections. Many of us develop scars, spots, blemishes, and more throughout our lifetime. The best method for dealing with the appearance of stretch marks is to have an open mind. Accept your body as it is. Sure, everyone can use a bit of improvement here or there, but no one should be expected to have the perfect body. We see some things in society as imperfections simply because we don’t understand them. If we can spread acceptance of our bodies through positivity, hopefully less people will feel the need to change what nature and real life has given them.



Trisha Miller is a freelance writer from Boise, ID. She is a dedicated vegan and is committed to an all-around eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle. You can follow her on Twitter @thatdangvegan and her blog (www.thatdangvegan.com).

How recycling can help eradicate mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika

Guest blogger, Trisha Miller, joins us again today to share some important developments in the fight against the mosquito-borne illness, Zika.

Photo courtesy of Revolution 22

Recycling to End Illness

Diseases including malaria, typhoid, dysentery, cholera, and the newly discovered Zika are affecting millions of people each year. What is the cause? In one simple word -- trash. All of these diseases are a direct result of poor waste disposal. Not to mention, each of these illnesses are quite aggressive and can be fatal if not treated properly. Unfortunately, many impoverished communities are not equipped with the necessary tools to rid themselves of such a plague. With proper filtering, responsible waste placement, and recycling, we could potentially rid many areas of these illnesses. Luckily, there are numerous organizations out there working to make it a reality one day at a time.

As many are aware, the malaria infection is spread through disease carrying mosquitoes. Stagnant, unfiltered water and trash covered areas are a common breeding ground for insects such as these, which means any areas accumulating said trash could become a hot spot for the spread of this type of illness.

Recently, an outbreak of the illness Zika has traveled across South America. Scientists have concluded that the disease is spread in the same way as the malaria infection - through mosquito bites. The symptoms include rash, headache, red/sore eyes, joint pain, and a mild fever. Although these effects don’t sound deadly, it’s what’s hiding beneath the surface that is really concerning. An astonishing 20% of pregnant women who become infected with Zika have babies with serious birth defects. As of right now, there is no cure.

The birth defects include a condition called microcephaly, which is a smaller than normal head size. It is believed the disease interrupts the child’s growth process while in the womb, slowing the natural formation of the brain and skull. Of course, this type of abnormality can cause an array of irreversible mental health issues.

However, many volunteer organizations are now stepping in to provide relief for those affected. Researchers have concluded that colonies of mosquitoes are forming around trash that does not quickly decompose, such as old tires and used plastic containers. So they have decided to use the mosquito’s own resources against them. Volunteers and scientists are using recycled tires in order to trap the infected bugs for good.

Mosquitoes are attracted to the old tires, commonly equipped with a small pool of water inside. Once the colony has chosen this nice shelter for breeding, the entire family of mosquitoes moves into the oasis of trash. Researchers are then carefully capturing some of the insects for further study, as they work towards discovering a cure. And, in order to stop the spread of Zika, they are destroying the eggs of the infected mosquitoes.

This provides a solution at little to no cost to those looking to eradicate the disease. The used materials can be donated or scavenged from around the world for such a wonderful cause. What’s more, if the elimination of Zika proves fruitful in this way, these recycled traps may be used similarly in order to gain control of the spread of other infections like Malaria.

***

Trisha Miller is a freelance writer from Boise, ID. She is a dedicated vegan and is committed to an all-around eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle. You can follow her on Twitter @thatdangvegan and her blog (www.thatdangvegan.com)

How to Prepare for Fall/Winter Energy Conservation

With cooler temps on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about how you can save energy in the cold months. Guest blogger, Trisha Miller, offers her tips on how to make that happen.

 How to Prepare for Fall/Winter Energy Conservation

 

Photo by TBridget Mac

Fall and winter are right around the corner and these seasons are notoriously synonymous with energy sucking and high bills. Outside of the normal turning down the thermostat and setting it on a timer, there are so many home improvements and easy tips that can help save some warmth, comfort, and peace of mind during the upcoming holiday season. So, fire up those lights and make your best pumpkin pie because eco-Santa Claus is coming to town.

Dress Appropriately

The first step is wearing seasonally appropriate clothing to save on heating costs. Not that you have to wear coats and mittens inside, but wearing a tank top and shorts inside just so the heat can be cranked up is not the way to go. Being comfortable in a long sleeve shirt or sweater and pants or sweats is a much better option.

Trap in the Heat

Use the sun to heat your home and open up those blinds during the day, but be sure to close them at night. The house will heat up a few degrees while it’s light out, more than it would if blinds were covering the windows. Also, think about purchasing some weighty drapes. This helps to trap in the heat a bit better than sheer curtains. If there are cracks or spaces around windows, this will stop heat from escaping so quickly. Of course, covering any leaky areas around the window is also a good idea. This can be done by taping a plastic bag around the entire window or sealing the crack with tape or caulking.

If you want to really go the extra mile, check your attic and crawl space. Insulate your attic either by yourself with foam pads from the store or hire an insulation expert to spray foam insulation to trap in that much more heat. This will stop heat from escaping right through the framing at the top of your home. Make sure you look into eco-friendly options.

Lower Energy Usage

Take advantage of sleep time and out of the house time. Set your dial a few degrees back when you are sleeping or when you are out of the house. Some sites say to set the dial back by 10 - 15 degrees while sleeping or away from the home. However, others argue that doing so will cause your heater to work overtime when you arrive back home or wake up. I suggest just dialing back a few degrees instead.

Maintain furnaces and thermostats by having them checked frequently or at least tested by a professional before the cold season hits. Having to fix an entire unit after it breaks will be much costlier than paying for an annual tune-up.

Lower the temperature on your water heater. Some homeowners are not aware of this trick. If you check your water heater there is a knob on the outside that allows for higher water temperatures if necessary. This can usually be turned down and will work just as well as before. It may not get scaling hot right away, but nobody needs that anyway.

Buy energy efficient lights to lower costs on decorative holiday lights. There are energy saving lights available at most stores. That extra 2 or 3 dollars could save much more over the entire holiday season.

***

Trisha Miller is a freelance writer from Boise, ID. She is a dedicated vegan and is committed to an all-around eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle. You can follow her on Twitter @thatdangvegan and her blog (www.thatdangvegan.com)