For boo boos, infections, ouchies, bruises and itchies! What is it?

Another Review It Wednesday has rolled around. This week I want to praise the virtues of a product I received, at no charge, about 6 weeks ago. Often when I receive a product, I post a review fairly quickly. However, I felt I really needed to test this product on a variety of conditions before I wrote anything about it.

It claims to be the answer for boo boos, infections, ouchies, bruises and itchies. The list of conditions it helps to heal includes:

• muscle pain
• swelling
• arthritis
• minor eczema
• diaper rash
• chicken pox
• acne
• dermatitis
• stings
• thrush
• cold sores
• inflammation
• cracked heels
• small cuts and grazes
• dry hands
• bruises
• minor burns
• psoriasis
• rashes
• mosquito bites
• cradle cap
• minor infection

Whew! What is this magic stuff? It's called Multi Healing Balm (appropriate name) and it's one little tube that claims to be the 'go to balm' for when you know you need to apply something but you're not sure what.

What's in this miracle cream? Multi Healing Balm contains New Zealand Manuka and Kanuka Oils used in traditional Maori medicine to 'heal.' Similar to Tea Tree Oil, but gentler for the skin, Multi Healing Balm includes anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties.

I read up on the Multi Healing Balm, but reading wasn't going to give me what I needed for a review. So I tried it. And my husband tried it. And, other than Bill complaining a little bit about the smell initially, we liked it. It worked. My rough, dry hands softened. Bug bites stopped itching and healed quickly. Minor rashes disappeared.

"It works, and that's what counts," Bill just said to me, when I questioned him about not liking the smell. And he's right. I'm not overly fond of the smell myself. But that's just a matter of personal preference. And at least it's natural and not full of chemicals.

The big test for me involved shaving. I get terrible razor burn in sensitive areas, and break out in painful rashes. I decided to give the Multi Healing Balm a try after shaving one day. I smeared it on and discovered a little bit goes a long way. Day one ... no rash. Day two ... no rash. Day three ... no rash. Woo hoo! I couldn't be happier. A few small spots appeared on the fourth day, but they were minor. I applied the cream for three days in a row and was basically free of any rashes related to shaving. For me, this makes it a miracle cream!

Honestly, I didn't try it for swelling or athlete's foot or a bunch of other conditions it claims to treat. But everything I did try it for worked. Really.

The Multi Healing Balm was created by Jodee Reid, a Pittsburgh mother of four, who was concerned about how to safely treat all the skinned knees and bruises that come naturally to active kids. The balm cleans, heals and protects broken skin with its antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties.

Manuka and kanuka oils from New Zealand were used in traditional Maori medicine to 'heal' and were known for their anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. This is what makes them the ideal first defense against normal childhood skin injuries.

Creating the balm to address her children's injuries, Jodee, a qualified beauty therapist, also realized how this could be the perfect balm for the entire family. "Pure essential oils can be wonderful in supporting the skin's natural response to healing," she says. "However, used incorrectly they can be incredibily toxic. We have created the perfect ratio of pure essential manuka and kanuka oils combined with a natural cream base so you are safe in the knowledge that you can promote natural healing of the skin without over using the essential oils.

For me, I feel really good knowing I can put this cream on my grandbabies without worrying about anything. This stuff is safe! And it is so easy to apply. It comes in a 50 ml tube, which fits nicely in my purse, for on-the-road 'emergencies.'

And others love it as well. Mom Sarah Bloomfield says, "Multi Healing Balm is the most used product in our household. I use it on anything and everything that comes up on my son and he has very sensitive skin. This product has never made his skin react like other products have. I absolutely love Multi Healing Balm."

In my opinion, no home should be without this miracle product. If you're in the Western PA area, you can pick up a tube or two at Soergel's in Wexford or in the gift shop at Phipp's Conservatory. Or you can buy it online.

The company is owned and operated by New Zealander, Jodee Reid, a qualified esthetician, savvy business woman and mother of four. One of her children is Matisse Reid, who captured the hearts of New Zealand's public due to a rare medical condition that required the family to relocate to Pittsburgh, so she could receive a rare multiple organ transplant.

Please view the below video to learn more about Matisse.

Reviewing it for you, and saying a prayer for little Matisse,

Hana

Touting the benefits of turmeric

"If I had only one single herb to depend upon for all possible health and dietary needs,

I would without much hesitation choose Turmeric."

--Dr. David Frawley, Founder of the American Institute for Vedic Studies

I am in an awkward position. I really want to tell you about this amazing herb, but I'm not a doctor, pharmacist, scientist, researcher, or anything that resembles any of them. So I would never want anyone to take what I say about health benefits of something without doing some research themselves. I only know what works for me. Of course, everyone is different. But when I find something that so wonderfully improves the quality of my life, I just have to share it.

I have been suffering from EBVS (Epstein Barr Virus Syndrome) since I was sixteen-years-old. There are no cures, only treatments that may or may not help. Additionally, I developed fibromyalgia, a very painful condition which makes walking quite difficult, especially when combined with EBVS.

Years ago, I started taking St. John's Wort for my bi-polar disorder (I know...that's a lot of disorders -- did I mention diabetes and asthma as well?). Anyway, after awhile I noticed a big change in my EBVS symptoms. By accident, I discovered that St. John's Wort is often used, with success, to treat EBVS. Wonderful! A little herb that packs a powerful punch for two of my conditions. As far as the bi-polar goes, I recognize that I am blessed to be able to treat such a serious condition without medication.

A word of warning -- St. John's Wort should never be combined with an antidepressant (with a few exceptions), so do not start taking it without talking to your doctor first. In my case, I weaned myself off lithium and Prozac and waited two weeks before starting on the St. John's Wort. Like I said, I consider myself blessed that it works for me.

Well, when I sat down to write this, I had no intention of mentioning the St. John's Wort. Sorry I got sidetracked. Let's move on to the turmeric.

A few months ago I stopped by Right by Nature in downtown Pittsburgh and chatted with a woman working in the nutritional supplements section. I told her about my fibromyalgia and she immediately directed me to a product called Turmeric Formula by Organic India, telling me that people with fibro come in all the time to buy it. The ingredients in the formula are as follows:

• Organic Turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa) 400mg
• Turmeric Extract -- 95% curcumimoids 100mg
• Organic Ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) 50mg

The suggested dosage is one to two capsules with food and water two times a day.

I take two capsules once a day and, let me tell you, it is a miracle herb for me.

How do I know it is not just a coincidence? Well, I ran out of it and then had to go out of town. After a few days, I noticed the pain returning. After ten days, the pain was ridiculous. I took another trip downtown to Right by Nature and bought another bottle. And guess what? The pain is nearly gone again.

So this is my endorsement for this wonderful little herbal formula. However, do not even consider taking turmeric if you are pregnant, as it can cause uterine contractions.

You should avoid taking it for other reasons as well, such as if you have:

• gallstones
• bile obstruction
• obstructive jaundice
• unidentified congestive heart failure
• toxic liver disorder

While you should always speak with your doctor before starting an herbal remedy, this is especially true if you are nursing, are trying to get pregnant, have a blood-clot disorder, or are on any type of medication.

Since the turmeric formula has worked well for my fibro, I decided to look into other benefits linked to it. The list is impressive and includes the following possible benefits:

• Detoxifies the liver
• Slows progress of multiple sclerosis (in mice, at least)
• Boosts fat metabolism (yippee -- maybe I'll be skinny sometime in the next couple of decades!)
• Kills pain naturally
• Treats depression
• As an anti-inflammatory, it lessens the severity of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Eases symptoms of psoriasis and some other skin conditions
• Removes the buildup of amyloyd plaque on the brain, thus slowing the progression, and possibly preventing Alzheimer's

Remember, all these things are just possibilities, but they are based on research and studies done throughout the world. Most remarkably, to me, is what turmeric is said to do in regards to cancer, including reducing the risk of childhood leukemia, restricting metastases in various forms of cancer, preventing melanoma and killing off existing melanoma cells, preventing the spread of cancer in the breast to the lung, stopping the growth of new blood vessels in tumors, and boosting the effects of the chemo drug, Paclitaxel, and limiting its side effects. And apparently, when combined with cauliflower (go figure!), turmeric has been known to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of the tumor in existing cases. Additionally, there are ongoing studies on the positive effects of this wonder spice on pancreatic cancer and on multiple myeloma!

Whether you decide to take turmeric in capsule form, like I do, or find new spice up your cooking with it, I strongly recommend adding it to your diet in one way or another (unless you fall in any of the avoid-taking-this categories listed above).

I am so glad someone directed me to this little bottle on the shelf. Merry Christmas to me!

Keeping it healthy,

Hana