As with most other crystals, you will find tourmaline in many forms. The most common are what are known as rough - the stone in its original form, usually cut in chunks of various sizes to suit various budgets. In this form the stone will be a soft, almost dull black colour. Equally common are the more intense black examples with striations - deep ridges - along the length with inclusions of mica that enhance the beauty and power of the stone.
While the rough examples are popular with purists, you will of course find polished versions in the form of bead bracelets, tumbles, spheres, wands, pyramids and much more. Some prefer the smoother finish for placing on the face or body.
You may also find tourmaline ‘mixed’ with other crystals. The most common is tourmalinated quartz. This is where a tourmaline would have formed through clear quartz. The quartz amplifies the protective and grounding qualities of the black stone which in turn adds strength to the quartz. The two components work together for enhanced results.
What are the best ways to work with this stone?
Keep a small tumble in your pocket or wear it in bracelet form so that it continues to work on your auric field throughout the day. This is ideal to stay protected against negative thoughts and psychic attacks when you are out in public. You can also keep a small piece next to you or under your pillow while you sleep. This is especially useful for releasing any negativity picked up from the interactions of the day.
Then there are specific applications.
All kinds of healers and therapists prefer to have a sizeable piece nearby to shield their aura from the multitude of energies emanating from their clients. This is because the majority of their clients come to them carrying stress, anxiety, feelings of helplessness and other low emotions. A therapist could easily absorb these if not careful. Astrologers of modern times are also turning to this stone to guard against unwanted energies of heavily afflicted charts.
Traditionally, astrologers would use a kalash (copper pot) filled with rice and topped with a coconut as a means of spiritual protection. However, this is not always practical for the tech savvy jyotishis of modern times. Astro software means astrologers can read charts and do consultations on the move with their laptops or mobile phones. For these practitioners, keeping a tourmaline stone with them is practical and arguably just as effective.
Your home is your sanctuary, so it’s important to maintain the sense of peace and security. In an age of online ordering of products and meals we are visited by an increasing number of couriers in addition to friends and relatives. By placing a large chunk (1kg+) of tourmaline near the front door, this stone can be your energy guard, ensuring that toxic thoughts don’t wander in. Some households like to create a protective grid by placing a stone in the four corners around the property.
Protection is better than cure, however it is good to know that methods are available when a cure is required. I have dealt with a number of cases where a property would have been disturbed by spirits. In one case the land had been in dispute between the family members from many generations back. Here again, tourmaline is the ‘go to’ stone for drawing out the unwanted energies.
You can also use these stones as vastu remedies. Urban living often means dwelling in apartments where it is virtually impossible to have ideal room placements. Tourmaline is one of the stones that can help to alleviate doshas. The most common vastu problems arise from toilets/ bathrooms. Traditionally, toilets were kept completely outside the house, but modern plumbing has allowed for a bathroom in almost every bedroom. This is far from ideal, adding to the doshas for the home. An easy remedy is to place tourmaline in each bathroom.
As it resonates with the root chakra at the base of the spine the deep black stone banishes anxiety and wavering thoughts to bring in a sense of calm and alignment. Whether it is stress from a hectic day at work, frustration from traffic or exam anxiety, tourmaline will help you. It is especially a boon for those who tend to feel scattered or drained after visiting public places. Simply sit down with the stone in your hand, breathe deeply and feel centred in your body within 5 minutes.
I have used tourmaline in numerous cases where the client was feeling ungrounded and spaced out. There can be many reasons for this. From traumatic shocks, foreign energy invasions or escapism. Spirituality is a vast subject with its own pitfalls. I have seen many cases of newcomers who suddenly become enamoured with the metaphysical world, believing that they need to go out there and connect with other worlds and dimensions. The problem is that in many cases this is simply a form of escapism. The reality of their existence as a human being on earth has too many painful associations. Instead of embracing who they are and learning their lessons they feel lured by the fantasy of distant worlds.
When such people experiment with astral travel and journeying, they don’t want to come back to their harsh reality. So when they appear to wake up and come back from their ‘travels’ a part of their consciousness gets left behind. The result is someone who has very little alertness, simply going through the motions. The lights are on but no one’s home! It is at times like these that tourmaline can help to bring the person back to reality and pull their consciousness back.
Once the person has come back to reality, it is important to follow up with more work to prevent the need to escape. This is where tourmaline’s ability to balance the brain functions and ‘rewire’ neural pathways is extremely useful. It allows the person to embrace their ground reality and to realise that there is a reason they have taken this birth in this form and under these circumstances.
The stone can use its unique structure to draw out old, negative thoughts from the mind. We often acquire beliefs through our experiences that may not actually be true. Facts are different from perception. Once cleared, space is created for positive, empowering thoughts.
Similarly, people can have a tendency to hold on to emotions from the past. Guilt, regret, fear and the like act as self created obstacles to realising one’s potential. Furthermore, these emotions act as magnets for attracting more experiences that resonate with those emotions. Left unchecked, a few stressful experiences can soon spiral into dark episodes of depression. Tourmaline can work wonders for the mind by extracting these trapped emotions, thereby enabling you to feel better and attract more meaningful interactions.
I have seen remarkable results in sessions for people feeling stressed out or anxious. The usual method would be to have the person lie down and to place these black stones on and around the body. You then link the stones energetically to create a healing grid. Let the person relax for 15 to 20 minutes either through some guided meditation or gentle music. It is amazing to see how quickly one can feel calm and almost forget about their daily grind. The same method can work for releasing foreign energies, though this is best combined with other healing methods such as Reiki or hypnotherapy.
Over the long term, continuing to work with tourmaline can help you to overcome the roots of stress, anxiety and psychosomatic body issues. After all, most diseases of the body actually stem from unresolved issues in the mind.
On a physical level, tourmaline can work on the brain, spine and immune system. In my experience I have seen clients feel relieved of migraines, back pain and fevers.
The best thing about working with stones for healing is that there are no hard and fast rules. Allow the intuition to guide you and will see yourself applying crystals in the most creative ways. I have used tourmaline for spine issues by having the client lie down and placing the stones along their back. Usually I would use an array of small stones but at times I may feel the person needs just one or two larger chunks.
Though healers may use crystals for a variety of mental and physical disorders, these should not replace appropriate medical advice. Think of them as your helpers on an energy level.
These stones are also fundamental in chakra healing. In such cases we use a specially made wand but any long piece can do the job. Again, the client is lying down and the wand is moved in a series of strokes above the body to open up the aura. This enables the healer to scan the chakras for diagnosis and healing.
While crystals of various forms have been in use since ancient times, they are efficient in dealing with modern phenomena. For example, we now live among increasing electromagnetic radiation, radio waves and WiFi. This electric ‘smog’ can be especially disturbing for sensitive people. Tourmaline is your ally in helping to transmute the external frequencies into earth energy.
Even after years of working with these stones, I still get surprised with their novel applications. I recently discovered from a friend how tourmaline can be effective in purifying the water of small ponds and aquariums.
Looking after your tourmaline is easy. Simply keep it in sunlight and it will be as good as new. The solar rays will cleanse the stone of all the energies it absorbed. The best thing is you can leave it in the sun for as long as you like. Once a week is fine, but if you are using it actively for energy work or sessions then it’s best to cleanse it more frequently. A rinse with water is ideal for small tumbles and bracelets.
Beware of fakes!
Demand for crystals has been rising over the years, causing pressure on suppliers. Unfortunately, this also attracts unscrupulous practices. At times black agate is sold as tourmaline since it is more readily available and cheaper to source. It can be more difficult to distinguish when polished. The key is to remember that genuine tourmaline will feel softer to the touch. Also, even when polished it has more of a matte appearance in contrast to the shiny finish of agates and obsidians.
In some cases you may find completely synthetic materials being sold as crystals. With some experience you will be able to identify the fakes just by the feel in your hand. Those who work with energy such as Reiki or Pranic healers will find this easier to do.
People who work with crystals often like to create grids. These are arrangements of stones placed in patterns for various objectives such as distant healing or manifesting. While clear quartz are popular for their directional abilities, tourmalines are often used to add stability and grounding to the grid. I often use tourmaline in grids for distant healing of all kinds of problems from depression to surgeries.
]]>Hey! Season’s greetings to everyone out there. I’m pretty sure everyone must be gorging on sweets, bursting crackers and so on and so forth.
One wonders how many people stop to think about why certain rituals are followed or certain dishes are prepared or even what is the purpose behind the festivals themselves. Usually, the reasons are- It’s always been done, it’s fun so we do it, it’s tradition, to please the Gods, someone else (role model/family member) does it so we do it too, it looks cool on television, and so ad infinitum.
It’s amazing how we’ve ceased to think at all! As an ardent devotee of Ayurveda, I looked up some rituals and dug up some health facts associated with it which is tacit knowledge to some but unknown to many others.
The basic thing to understand is that our body and the seasons/climate outside have a very intimate relationship. After all, our body is a miniature of the Universe but, more on that some other time. We’ll understand how festival rituals work by taking a season and a festival celebrated during the time. Since there are too many festivals to cover, let’s start with a few. We’ll first learn a little about the season and then the rituals.
AUTUMN: This season stretches over the months of Ashwin and Karthik and is popularly known in India as the “October heat”. This season sees the full- fledged fury of pitta and vitiated blood while it also sees a number of delectable dishes. Pitta manifests as acidity, migraines, urticaria, chicken pox, and the like during this season. Also, this season sees increased development (anabolism) in the body and gradually increasing immunity. Increased nourishment is a implied in this season. So, let’s take a look at two scientifically important rituals for this season.
RITUALS/ FESTIVALS: Kojagiri Poornima and Diwali.
REASONS: Kojagiri Poornima is celebrated by drinking milk at night while looking at the full moon. This translates to cooling the body. Milk is an excellent coolant and reduces the effects of vitiated pitta. It also provides nourishment and improves immunity. It moisturizes skin and other tissues protecting them from the dryness of the season and the upcoming winter.
Similarly, during Diwali we have sweets and oily foods. They serve a similar purpose as milk taken on Kojagiri Poornima. The ritual of ghata pooja or filling of water indicates that ground water; well waters have been purified by time and season and are fit for human consumption. The oiling indicates the commencement of regular oiling of the body to prevent dryness and improve skin quality and bathing again highlights the purification of the body. It also removes any remnant debris of microbes, germs, etc.
These are just a few things that can spread a scientific understanding to many things that have been long forgotten by most.
The * mark indicates Ayurvedic scientific terms that can be understood through reliable Ayurvedic books and sites. If you have any questions related to ayurveda please feel free to ask. I’ll be only too glad to answer.
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One of the most common complaints that most people have in these days is hair fall. We have all tried the gallons of oil, the shampoos, hair gels and hair spas. Somehow, we are still stuck there. Why? Hair fall is associated with the two Ds – Dandruff and deficiency. What causes these? Our diet, lifestyle and selecting wrong skin and hair care.
Needless to say, our lifestyle and diet are extremely unhealthy. Those who are health conscious fall prey to wrong advertisements and unscientific fads. All of this increases Vata dosha in the body which in turn weakens the body, starting with skin and hair. While we will discuss the appropriate diet and lifestyle in future segments along with the why and wherefore, here let us look at appropriate external hair care.
In Ayurveda, along with the now-familiar concept of Doshas, we have the concept of Agni or digestive capacity. This digestive capacity isn’t just confined to our stomachs; it is present in every part that has a transformative function – the seven basic tissues (Saptadhatu), eyes, skin, etc. Our focus here is the Agni in our skin. Whatever oil, etc we use should be the type that can be assimilated by the Agni in our skin. This is where what apply comes into play. How do we know how to select the appropriate regimen? The following steps can be a guide.
STEP 1: Identify your skin (scalp) type.
First, assess the scalp type. Is it dry, slightly oily or very oily? Is it sensitive? Identify your scalp and hair Dosha by taking the dosha test. Remember that sometimes the overall prakruti dosha may differ from the specific dosha predominant in the hair.
STEP 2: Oil selection.
Take a look at the ingredients and base oils whenever buying or selecting hair oils. The following table will act as a guide based on the Dosha dominance of the scalp and hair.
DOSHA TYPE |
BASE OIL |
HERBS |
POINTERS |
||
LOOK FOR |
AVOID |
LOOK FOR |
AVOID |
||
VATA |
Castor oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, oils processed with milk, avocado oil, olive oil, mustard oil, argan oil |
Mineral oil, light liquid paraffin (LLP), Neem oil |
Musta (nutgrass), Triphala, liquorice (yashtimadhu), bhringaraj, gunja, etc |
-- |
The dryness of Vata requires heavy, warm oils for better absorption and benefit |
PITTA |
Coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil |
Mineral oil, LLP, LP, Castor oil, Milk processed oil, sesame oil, mustard oil |
Neem, Triphala, Hibiscus, Jasmine, Musta |
Liquorice, gunja, dhatura, etc. |
Pitta people are highly prone to allergies and infections so purifying and cooling herbs and oils are preferred |
KAPHA |
Mustard oil, sesame oil, coconut oil |
LLP, Mineral oil, milk processed oil, castor oil, olive oil |
Neem, Triphala, Hibiscus, Gunja, ginger, yashtimadhu, bhringaraj, etc |
Dhatura |
Oily, thick scalp and hair of Kapha requires oiling but only with light and warming oils. |
NOTE: Those with damaged hair or frequent use of heated equipment and chemicals should ALWAYS opt for light oils like coconut or sesame and totally avoid heavy oils like castor and olive.
STEP 3: How to use the oils
Once the suitable oil is selected, how much and how to use the oil? That depends on the Doshas too. Vata people, in general, require more amount of oiling therefore, the oil can be left for 6-8 hrs. A light oil or oil-based hair serum can be used as a leave-in conditioner (after the hair dries). For Pitta scalp, the drier type can leave in the oil for a maximum 6 hrs, whereas the oilier scalp type can leave it for around 4 hrs. Light oil-based serum, usually with anti-dandruff properties is recommended for Pitta scalp to apply when hair is dry and leave in. For Kapha type, 1 to 2 hrs should suffice.
For Kapha and Vata, the oil can be warmed slightly. The oil, for all scalp types, should be gently massaged until absorbed. Keep adding oil and massaging till the scalp stops absorbing it. Detangle the hair and leave for the required amount of time.
How often do you oil your hair? Vata can oil the hair as frequently as daily or at the least every 2 days. Pitta people twice a week and Kapha people once a week is considered ideal.
STEP 4: Washing the scalp
The most preferred way is to wash off with a paste of herbal powders like shikakai, soap nut, etc. As it is time-consuming and daunting, using this paste as a scalp and hair mask and washing it off as a weekly ritual is more practical. Other times, try using mild handmade shampoos or shampoo bars. If, like many others, a commercial branded shampoo is preferred, always dilute the shampoo and use. It is okay if you have to use it twice or thrice. All cleansing agents come under the umbrella of kshara in Ayurveda. Kshara, in excess, causes dryness and weakness as its action is to wear off anything such as Kapha, oil and even kidney stones! Harsh chemicals cause our skin to become dry, weak and open to infection.
Make sure hair is detangled and always use lukewarm water or cold water. This helps to reduce any stress on already weak hair thus reducing breakage and hair fall. Towel drying of hair should be done gently and on the whole, avoid any heating apparatus such as irons, curlers and hair dryers. Heat weakens and damages the hair as does flowing air. Do not tie up or bind your hair until fully dry.
This is a basic external hair care regime that can be followed by everyone. Please do send feedback and let us know what else YOU want to know about Ayurveda and general health.
Have a Happy Hair Day every day!
Dr Tanvi Dayanand
BAMS, MD (Ayu)
For many of us, the whole idea of presents takes us back to our early childhood. Whether it was a birthday or a special occasion, our minds associate gifts with delightful memories and happiness. The anticipation before receiving your present, the suspense, guessing what it is, the joy of unwrapping, tearing off colourful pieces of paper all add to the joy of the gift itself. For some, giving is an act of love. Just as we enjoy receiving, we also like others to experience the same heart warming feeling of receiving.
In most cultures it is customary to give gifts even on small occasions e.g. taking a bottle of wine to a dinner party. From a perspective of oneness, we are all the same life force energy experiencing life through different bodies. Seeing others as our own self helps to attain satisfaction in seeing others’ happiness.
During this time of year, many offices organise a ‘secret Santa’ where you pick colleagues’ names at random and give gifts anonymously. This activity focuses the experience on the giving itself. Quite often you end up with someone who you don’t know so well, yet you still take the time to consider what your recipient would want.
When we give with pure intention, not only are we expressing an act of love, or kindness but we are creating a flow of energy. When we give, we send a signal to our mind that we have. Because of course, we can only give when we have. Being stingy, you are telling yourself you don’t have enough, regardless of your bank balance.
One of the old words for wealthy is affluent. The archaic meaning of this word is ‘freely flowing.’ It seems our ancestors knew the connection between giving and wealth creation. Wealth is created not just by accumulation but by a free flow – you need to keep it moving. I like to think of it as a tap. When it is turned off, the water from the inlet is fixed. Once you turn it on, not only does water flow out but more water is pulled in from the incoming source. The nature of gifts varies in size, shape and use. Sometimes they are purely for enjoyment, other times for more functional purposes. In recent times there has been a rise in health, wellness and beauty.
What if we could combine all of these in one smart set? Check out the monthly chakra boxes from Ocean in a Drop. Every month, there is a box loaded with a selection of anything from handmade soaps, body butters, face masks, body scrubs and healing crystals. Along with the visual delight, intoxicating natural fragrance there is a feeling of high vibrations thanks to the powerful crystals.
The goodness continues throughout the life of the products as you use them on your skin and feel cleansed and pampered like never before. This is truly a gift for the mind, body and soul.
Dipesh Parmar
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Recently there has been a surge in interest for all kinds of body butter. Who would have thought we would be applying 'butter' on our bodies?
Let's first look at why we need these products in the first place. Dry skin.
The skin is usually pretty good at keeping itself lubricated and protected with the body's natural oils. The key word there being 'oils.' Climate conditions, diet, dehydration can all be factors for upsetting the natural balance. Cold, windy weather can be particularly drying for the skin. This is why we tend to need more moisturising during the winter months.
So why the sudden rush for body butter?
Firstly, body butters are made with one or more oils. The human body keeps itself moist with oil so it only makes sense to follow suit doesn't it? The advantage of using oil based moisturisers is that most of the oils have added benefits such as skin brightening, healing and fighting infections. They can be nourishing as well as moisturising.
Lotions on the other hand are usually water based (typically up to 70% water!). The water content means the effects of most lotions don't last as long and you have to re-apply later in the day. Most lotions are also loaded with unnatural ingredients such as parabens, SLSs, etc... (don't forget a lot of what you put on your skin eventually finds its way into your body!)
Body butters on the other hand do not contain water, can be made completely with only natural ingredients and don't necessarily need the unwanted parabens and SLSs.
Note: many products are advertised with 'natural ingredients.' It is important to realise that just because natural ingredients are used, doesn't mean the product is completely natural and free of artificial preservatives. Always check the ingredients.
Lotion is like fast food. It's quick and easy but not always the healthiest option. It can be applied any time on the skin.
Body butter being oil based and therefore thicker, requires a slightly different method. The best time is after a shower or bath when your skin is towel dry (not too dry). The skin will be softer, warmer and the pores will be opened up - perfect conditions for absorbing some nourishing butter! Apply a small amount first and take more if required. You can be more generous with especially dry areas such as hands, elbows and knees. This method will ensure the butter literally melts on your skin, absorbs thoroughly and forming a protective barrier against the elements that lasts all day without sitting on the skin like a Texas oil spill.
While body butter is excellent for the body, we don't recommend it for the face. Facial skin is thinner and more sensitive making it prone to clogging.
We recommend using Argan oil for the face. Check out our very own 100% Moroccan Argan Oil (slightly scented with exotic natural fragrance).
Natural or not natural, always test a bit of any product on a small area of your skin to see if it's compatible and not allergic. Also, choose carefully according to your skin type. If your skin is on the drier side then body butter will definitely work better for you. Sensitive skin can benefit from the numerous healing benefits of the oils. For those with more oily skin, you may need to use only a very small amount and perhaps include a good quality soap which gently cleanses and nourishes your skin.
When you do decide to dive into the world of body butter, have a look at our range of rich, luxurious products. The advantage with Ocean in a Drop butters is they are 100% natural and handmade with carefully selected ingredients to create a feast for your skin! Energised with healing crystals for added benefits for the body as well as the mind.
For example, our Amethyst Body Butter contains an amethyst crystal tumble. This legendary violet hued stone is known to create a protective shield against negative energy and can help in overcoming addictions. It benefits the body by increasing the circulation and oxygenation of the blood while preventing inflammation.
We have always been fond of nature, especially the ocean. So that's why we are always looking for ways to minimise the use of plastic and striving for sustainable packaging to create zero waste products. Currently, all of our body butters and soaps are free from plastic packaging. Just look at how happy those dolphins are now!
Dipesh Parmar - merkabalife.com
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For hundreds, maybe thousands of years this powerful root has been used for everything from cooking to medicinal use. As a spice it is used for flavouring, and colouring. You can use it to heal cuts and wounds, and even apply it on your skin for its numerous health benefits. Ask virtually any married Hindu what they dread the most and usually the answer will be getting covered in the ‘yellow stuff!’ It is tradition to cover the bride and groom in turmeric from head to toe just before the wedding day. The yellow stuff was prized for its ability to rejuvenate and brighten the skin – perfect for shining with a glow on your big fat Indian wedding!
It seems the people in India knew from years ago of the numerous properties of this wonderful deep yellow ingredient. It has been written about in ancient Sanskrit literature and used in holistic practises such as Ayurveda since over 4,000 years ago
Science has only recently discovered that turmeric contains the active ingredient – curcumin. This is what makes turmeric a great antioxidant, antiseptic and antimicrobial ingredient.
You can heal a wide range of ailments from within and out. Mix a little turmeric with hot water, honey and lemon for a cough or sore throat. The cough will quickly dissolve, viruses/ bacteria are cleared and it is soothing for the throat. This mixture can also be had first thing in the morning as a preventative detox. Its antioxidant properties enable it to tackle harmful free radicals in the body. Many illnesses are caused by some form of inflammation e.g. arthritis and allergies. Consuming turmeric can help to reduce any swelling inside or outside the body.
Further, it can help protect the liver, reduces cholesterol and can heal gastric ulcers.
As people have begun flocking to take advantage of this ancient yellow root, it has been discovered that it is great for dental hygiene. As an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory it can be used a mouthwash to reduce pain and swelling of the gums and keeps the teeth clean.
With its antiseptic power it is often used to treat cuts and wounds. It also reduces inflammationand oxidation for faster healing. This was ideal as we didn’t exactly have antiseptic ointments in the remote villages.
Here are some examples of the countless benefits for the skin:
1. Restores skin’s natural and healthy glow – mixed with a little milk and/ or honey, turmeric can be applied on the skin. Stayed out in the sun too long? This mixture can reduce the tanning.
2. Soothing – stayed out in the sun way too long? Burned yourself on the iron or stove? Use turmeric as a balm to soothe the redness and burning.
3. Eczema/ Psoriasis – these skin conditions are becoming increasingly common. The yellow root can ease the inflammation and redness.
4. For the face – use as an exfoliator and anti-acne remedy.
5. Protection – shield your skin against harmful UV rays.
6. Rejuvenate – the anti-oxidants in turmeric prevents premature ageing and restores the youthful appearance of the skin.
If you don’t want to get messy applying the raw powder all over yourself, you can take advantage of the benefits with some ready to use products from Ocean in a Drop!
Citrine - natural, cold processed soap consisting of nourishing and healing ghee, turmeric and mango. Citrine crystal tumble included to imbibe the soap with the energy of joy, abundance and empowerment.
Tiger’s Eye - a luxurious body butter consisting of mango butter, turmeric and exotic Oudh. A tiger’s eye crystal tumble is included in the tin for continued energising of the butter.
]]>The new oil in the market for hair growth is Jamaican Black castor oil (JBCO). Why is it becoming so popular and how is it different from the original castor oil?
To begin with, it treats dandruff, moisturises hair, promotes hair growth, treats acne, and even relieves muscle pain. These properties set it apart from other nourishing oils, like coconut or argan. These castor oil beans go through a roasting process which gives it that burnt smell and dark colour (our brand has Rosemary essential oil added which is also known to help with hair growth and itchy scalps.) The key is the ash content while roasting making the oil alkaline rather than acidic like the yellow castor oil. Both oils are made from the same castor beans but processed in different ways. The yellow castor oil is cold processed but sometimes chemically extracted.
The JBCO oil is rich in Omega 9 fatty acids which helps with strengthening the hair and with rapid hair growth. Treats Acne, chapped lips, heals scars, promotes thicker eyelashes/eyebrows, prevents hair breakage and dry hair.
See which oil suits your hair, both are known for its benefits for the skin and hair.
As this is a thick oil you can mix it with your favourite oil and apply to hair or apply small amounts directly to the scalp overnight or an hour before washing.
Now available from Ocean in a drop. The origin of the castor beans is from Africa and through the slave trade made its way to Jamaica. We have been lucky enough to source ours from Africa where it's made in the purest and traditional form.
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Activated charcoal is one of the hottest items to enter the healthcare market in recent times. Essentially it is coal – often made from wood, coconut shells or peat – which is then treated through heat and thereby creating internal pores.
These pores are what give activated charcoal its supreme ability to draw out and trap toxins and chemicals. Also, the pores have a negative charge that magnetically attracts toxins which are positively charged to stick to it.
Medicinally this has been used orally for the treatment of poisoning and overdoses. Other uses include water filters and toothpaste.
We are concerned with its use in soap and creams. The powerful trapping effect with its porous structure makes activated charcoal a supreme product in cleansing and exfoliating (one of the best to remove blackheads). Now found in products such as bath soap, face wash, face masks and even makeup remover.
Ocean in a Drop has created a natural, handmade soap using activated charcoal as its base with added frankincense and black obsidian energy.
When you buy a lotion for your skin, what are the results you expect? Healthy and moisturised? Improved complexion? Free from blemishes? Studies have found you could be getting more than you bargained for.
Many skin products have been found to contain illegal levels of poisonous mercury. The testing was done by the Mercury Policy Project who found that some products contained as much as 30,000 parts of mercury per million. The legal limit set by the US Food and Drug Administration is 1 part per million! (Source: ewg.org)
Mercury is a heavy metal and highly toxic. Exposure to mercury is harmful to the mind and body. The skin itself can suffer from rashes, discolouration, scarring and worst of all - reduced resistance to infections. These are certainly not the kind of results you want from your skin lotion!
The effects can go beyond skin issues as mercury can damage the kidneys and even cause mental issues such as anxiety, depression, psychosis and much more.
While the FDA has banned the use of mercury since 1973, enforcement is limited. Many products with illegal levels of mercury remain available through regular e-commerce portals such as eBay and Amazon.
Mercury is most commonly used in skin lightening creams, anti-aging products and acne treatments. Hmm… as if someone worried about their skin colour, age or face doesn’t already have enough anxiety. Here you go, have some Mercury loaded product and get depressed!
As if it wasn’t bad enough that mercury is being added to products at dangerous levels, it is not even mentioned in the ingredients! The few that do list it will do so with words such as quicksilver or Hg, among others.
Clearly it is becoming increasingly difficult to trust what companies are adding to their cosmetics. Thankfully, there are is a growing market of natural and handmade products crafted by artists who genuinely care about health.
One great example is Ocean in a Drop. All of their products are handmade using natural ingredients and many of them even contain healing crystals. What's more, they are now on a zero waste mission and have cut out all plastics from the packaging. In their unadulterated form, many of the oils and herbs lighten your skin complexion the natural way through gentle cleansing and nourishing. The crystals have numerous benefits not just for the skin but for the rest of the body and the mind. So now that you know, choose wisely what you apply on your skin!