By August, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all my cute sandals and fun flip flops as well as plenty of pretty toenail polish.Yet even with all the pedicures and buffing rituals I get those heels that most closely resemble rhinoceros skin.  

Dry, cracked heels are a common complaint as our feet are exposed in the summer.Not only does it happen to women who wear sandals and other open shoes, but men get it, too.  Buffing with sandstone helps slough off the dry and dead skin, but we still need to moisturize and heal the skin. 

Looking around at the options for our lovely feet that have taken us so far are plenty foot creams on the market, but none have been as successful for me as African Gator Balm.Just the name transports you to a hot desert vision, or perhaps one of your poor feet facing the hardships walking the Nile river all day, or fighting through the jungle climbing over rocks and limbs (sounds just like Fifth Avenue).

Save your feet, because African Gator Balm is made from all natural ingredients and the mix is just right.You’ve heard of shea butter, oils of avocado and almond as your best friends for keeping your skin smooth and healthy. The rich balm has this and more, including colloidal oatmeal, coconut, mango and caprylic and linoleic triglycerides, a whole host of vitamins and comfrey that smooth and heal.

Comfrey alone has been reported to promote healthy skin with its mucilage content that moisturizes and soothes while another compound in comfrey, allantoin, promotes skin ...Read More

The blues happen to the best of us. Recently, for no particular reason, I found myself spiraling into feelings of isolation and unworthiness. I tried to meditate it away, but the sadness was overwhelming. I knew this wasn’t serious enough to need anti-depressants, but I needed a boost. My energy was so low that I could barely fake a smile, so I ...Read More

If you're like me and are prone to Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), you  probably dread taking antibiotics and are constantly on a search for natural remedies that allow you to feel normal again.

By normal, I mean being able to get to sleep without popping those little brown pills that turn your urine bright orange and ...Read More

Who needs soda, with its health-eroding sugar per serving and corrosive phosphoric acid and nerve-wrecking caffeine?  As a mom, I feel it is crucial for me to provide tasty, nutritious drink alternatives to my kids (and myself).

Lacto-fermented beverages sometimes called kefir sodas and ...Read More

Listen up, ladies, I want you to back away from that Midol. Monthly cramps and backaches may plague us from time to time, but they’re not a required part of the program. Over the years I’ve discovered some natural ways to help relieve period pains.

Diet: One summer I had ...Read More

I’m a hopeless DIYer. If there’s a way I can make something myself, I’m bound to try it. My latest favorite has been making my own shampoo. I was at the health food store expressing my frustration about how I have such a hard time finding the right shampoo for my hair when a clerk gave me this simple recipe.

The basic ingredients ...Read More

Catherine Hunziker MacMann, herbalist and proprietor of Wishgarden Herbs in Boulder, Colo. came up with this harmonious blend. When infused, the combination of herbs, berries, and roots makes a wonderful tea that acts as a tonic to the whole system.

Nettles are high in iron and other minerals as well as vitamin C, which helps ...Read More

One of the reasons juicing has become so popular is that it concentrates the vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables so that immediately after drinking them you often can experience a beneficial boost to your system. This particular combination provides magnesium, potassium, and calcium - all rich nutrients that nourish the body.
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Try these additions to the usual cup of warmed milk the next time you have trouble getting to sleep.

In Ayurvedic medicine, milk is considered a nourishing and building food, while its calcium and triptophan content calm and relax. Adding ginger or cinnamon followed by a teaspoon of honey counteracts the mucous that can form if one ...Read More

Shuly, an Israeli friend whose mother is an expert herbalist, passed on this recipe for a refreshing elixir, which originated in Senegal, West Africa. He whips up some of this thick, frothy drink any time he or his friends are feeling low. It is especially energizing (and simply delicious) when you have a virus or are suffering from exhaustion.
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