Seeds of Wellness

Difference between Commercial and Handmade Soap

February 23, 2020 By Seeds of Wellness Leave a Comment

You can buy many varieties of bar soap, but not all bar soap is the same. The differences between commercial and handmade soap begin with how the soap is made and the additives to the soap.

Making Soap

Soap is made from fats or oils and lye. Most soaps are made with the cold process method: heating the fat or oils, slowly adding lye and water mixture until it thickens, adding fragrance and color and then pouring the liquid into molds. The soap is removed from the molds once hardened, about 24 hours. After it has cured for about four weeks, it is safe and ready for use. During the soap making process, the lye is neutralized with a chemical reaction that turns the fat and lye into soap.

Commercial Bar Soap

Much commercial soap is made using the cold process method. However, instead of pouring the liquid into molds once it thickens, they add salt to the mixture. The salt causes the liquid to curdle. The curdled soap floats to the top and is skimmed off the liquid to put into molds. The remaining liquid is mainly glycerin which is distilled and sold to pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies to make a profit.

By removing the glycerin from the soap, the bar soap is more like a detergent. A detergent is a surfactant that helps water and oil to combine instead of separating. This allows a surface to be cleaned with water even if the surface contains oil. The skin contains oil which is removed when a detergent is used. Therefore, commercial bar soap dries out the skin. It removes the skin’s natural oils that provide the body protection from weather, viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing substances.

In order for commercial bar soap to provide more moisturizing than drying to the skin, other ingredients need to be added to the soap like lotion and cream. Many commercial soap ads say “it won’t dry your skin” because they added moisturizers. These additives also contain many harsh chemicals and chemical preservatives.

What Is Glycerin?

Fats (both vegetable and animal) contain glycerin. It is a thick odorless and colorless sweet tasting and low toxicity liquid that is an ingredient in foods, medication, soap, antifreeze and other products.

Glycerin is known for its main property, humectant, the retaining of water. When glycerin stays on the surface of the skin, it helps seal the moisture in the skin because the moisture cannot be released into the air.

Glycerin is also hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. Therefore, it draws water to the skin from the air which increases the amount of moisture in the skin.

Handmade Soap

People who make soap can buy unscented glycerin bars or soap bars that they meltdown and add their own fragrance and color to the liquid and then put into molds. However, the glycerin content in the soap depends on the amount contained in the initial melted down bar soap. If the soap is made from scratch, many people use the cold process method.

When making soap from scratch, the glycerin remains in the soap, and the artisan can choose to add natural or artificial fats, oils, fragrances and colors to the final product. While the handmade soap may not last as long as the commercial soap, it doesn’t contain as many chemical preservatives or other harsh chemicals.

As a consumer, you need to look at the ingredient list of any soap you purchase, even the handmade soap. The ingredient list of a natural handmade soap shouldn’t contain chemical names like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) or artificial colors like blue number 1.

To learn more about natural soap and other natural skin care products, please go to our Skin Care Products webpage.

Tarot Decks, Oracle Cards, and Runes for Divination

February 1, 2020 By Seeds of Wellness Leave a Comment

by Sooraj Sudevan

For centuries, people have used many different tools for divination including tarot decks, oracles cards, and runes. “Humans have always looked for the answers to the great mysteries of life and the answers to questions such as “who controls our destiny?” There is evidence that some form of divination has been in existence since the earliest times. Many cultures around the world have used divination tools dating back thousands of years.”(1)

“What is divination? This is the term for a type of energetic communication drawn from ancient practices to seek guidance, knowledge, and inspiration straight from a higher power or spirit. There are many different methods of engaging in divination, but some are more popular than others.” (2)

We know that everyone felt lost in their life at a certain point. Our mind filled with questions, and we didn’t have the answers. Tarot decks, oracle cards, and runes provide guidance during these times.

Tarot Decks

These cards measure potential outcomes and evaluate the influences surrounding a person or event. The 78 tarot cards represent the spectrum of the human condition – the good, the evil, the light, and the dark. Tarot decks are not magic; its pure science. However, the symbols and illustrations on the cards hold a deep meaning that a reader interprets.

Using tarot cards help the reader be in contact with their higher self. Some believe the reader gets a picture of the client’s psyche as the client shuffles the cards. This helps the reader reveal the client’s past, present, and future to them.

“Tarot is able to tap into hidden thoughts, feelings and truths and bring them to the surface so you can use that information to make decisions about life, love, emotions, health, career and more.”(3)

Oracle Cards

Oracle cards also play an important role in divination because they give a positive and motivating reading to a person and can boost their confidence. Most oracle cards contain an image and a positive message or affirmation written on each card. “Oracle cards are easy to read right off the bat for most people since the meanings are usually written on the cards.”(4) The oracle cards also give us a way to focus our spiritual energy and access divine knowledge.

Like a tarot deck, oracle cards often reveal things about ourselves. However, the cards are more open to interpretation and are a kind of directive tool that offers guidance, clarity, and a new perspective. The artwork can be symbolic or reality-based; while many decks are illustrated with angels or symbols. The imagery on the cards is often inspirational, eliminating the darker mood that some tarot decks present.

Runes

Runes are an early writing system used for German languages dating back to 150 AD. In ancient times many rune writing systems developed but became replaced around 700 AD by the Latin alphabet which we use for writing today. “The Vikings believed runes were created when their chief god Odin speared himself to the cosmic world tree, Yggdrasil in hopes of receiving secret knowledge.”(5)

“Runes can be made of various materials, but are most commonly made of stone, and feature a symbol from the runic alphabet on them. There are various different types of runic alphabets used on runes, with one of the oldest ones being the old Germanic runic alphabet known as ‘Elder Futhark’. The Elder Futhark contains 24 runes, the first six of which spell out the word ‘futhark’…

The runes can help guide you through problems or issues and help show you what is likely to happen. They’re not a form of fortune-telling and don’t offer exact answers or give you advice – rather they offer different variables and suggest how you could behave if the event does occur. Runes are known for hinting towards answers, but leaving you to work out the details, which is where intuition is helpful.”(6)

Do Divination Tools Predict the Future?

“Short answer: nothing can “predict” the future with 100% accuracy as the future isn’t set in stone and we have free will to change it. Tarot and oracle cards do however show the most likely outcome based on what is happening in our lives within the present moment.”(7)

Comparing the three divination tools, oracle cards take little time to learn, offer positive messages, and open to interpretation. On the other hand, tarot decks contain rules, structure, and common meanings. This makes it easy to read any tarot deck once you know the meanings of each card. Lastly, runes give blunt answers and take time to understand the meaning of the symbols.

Stop into Seeds of Wellness to explore the variety of tarot decks, oracles cards and runes we have in stock.

Sources:
(1) “A Brief History of Divination” on Tarot Prophet
(2) “Top 10 Divination Tools” by Alissa Monroe on Psychics 4 Today
(3) “Tarot 101: The Basics” on Tarot
(4) “What’s the Difference Between Tarot & Oracle Cards?” by Kate on the Daily Tarot Girl
(5) “Runes: Facts And History About Odin’s Secret Language” on Ancient Pages
(6) “Rune Guide – An Introduction to Using Runes” by Rachel Newcombe on holisticshop.co.uk
(7) “How to Use Oracle and Tarot Cards for Deep Inner Word” on Lonerwolf
“Reading Tarot Cards: Divining Our Life Path” by Katalin Jett Koda on Llewellyn
“Oracle Cards ~ The Complete Guide” on Ask-Angels

Cannabidiol Hemp Oil (CBD) – What Are the Benefits?

December 26, 2019 By Seeds of Wellness Leave a Comment

Cannabidiol (CBD) hemp oil is extracted from the hemp plant, a relative of marijuana. The hemp plant contains only trace amounts (- 0.3%) of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), a psychotropic compound that causes a high. CBD offers many medical benefits with minimal side effects by interacting with the Endocannabinoid System (also called the Endogenouse Cannabinoid System) in our body.

The Endogenouse Cannabinoid System (ECS)

Discovered in the 1980s, “the ECS regulates a variety of biological processes, like relaxation, eating, sleeping, certain inflammation responses and even cognitive function. In a nutshell, your ECS is responsible for making sure your entire body is working optimally—no small task!

Endocannabinoids (and plant-based cannabinoids) link with protein molecule receptors—called cannabinoid receptors—on the surface of cells. CBD has also been shown to strengthen and improve the efficiency of mitochondria, the ‘powerhouses’ of your cells that are responsible for ensuring that your cells work the way they should.

When a person ingests cannabidiol hemp oil (CBD) or other cannabinoids, these cannabinoid receptors are activated. CBD appears to have a greater affinity for CB2 receptors than CB1 receptors. Research indicates that when you supplement your ECS with non-toxic, non-habit-forming cannabinoids, you may create a healthier endocannabinoid system and, almost certainly, a healthier you.” [Source: “A Simple Guide to the Endocannabinoid System” – Healthline]

What does this mean? By ingesting CBD, you help balance and maintain the ECS within your body. It also helps improve the body’s control centers ability to communicate with every other system.

“In the past decade, The Endocannabinoid System has been implicated in a growing number of physiological functions, both in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in peripheral organs… Modulating the activity of the Endocannabinoid System turned out to hold therapeutic promise in a wide range of disparate diseases and pathological conditions…” [Source: The Endocannabinoid System as an Emerging Target of Pharmacotherapy – National Institutes of Health]

CBD Benefits

The nutritional benefits of CBD include omega fatty acids, amino acids, protein, antioxidants. CBD also contains minerals like iron, zinc and copper as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, carotene, thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B6 and vitamin E. [Source: “What Are the Health Benefits of Hemp? – MedicalNewToday]

The documented health benefits of cannabidiol hemp oil (CBD) in medical journals and research publications:

Epilepsy – some evidence that CBD works as an anticonvulsant
Chronic pain – especially nerve pain and pain due to inflammation
Anxiety – research show CBD reduces anxiety in humans and animals
Depression – small doses have an “active” effect that helps with focus and activity, but large doses result in a “sedative” effect.
Arthritis – shown to reduce joint pain both orally and as a topical
Diabetes – early findings, show slowing down cell damage related to diabetes
Drug Addiction, alcoholism, and smoking – found to help curb the desire, especially for nicotine

Source: What Are the Actual Benefits of CBD – Ministry of Hemp

Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always check with your physician before starting a new dietary supplement program.

Is CBD Legal?

CBD for the People — Our full-spectrum dark CBD
by For the People

Since the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD products became legal in the USA. Therefore, you can purchase CBD without a prescription or permit.

Seeds of Wellness sells CBD by Blue Moon Hemp, 3CHI, For the People, and Zuri. Our products include full-spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD and CBD isolate. Talk to us to find out which type of CBD and products will work best for your situation.

Bayberry Candle Christmas & New Year’s Eve Tradition

November 26, 2019 By Seeds of Wellness Leave a Comment

Giving and lighting a bayberry candle on Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve has been a long-time American tradition. The history dates back to colonial times.

The early colonists of North America discovered bayberries gave off a greenish-white waxy residue when boiled. By saving the bayberry wax, they used it to make taper candles. However, it was time-consuming and took many bayberries – “nearly 18 pounds of the berries to get about 2 pounds of wax” – to make enough wax for a single candle. “Some communities passed laws to protect the bayberry crop from an early harvest. The result was a high value; bayberry candles became a luxury item, saved for special use.”

Adding beeswax to the bayberry wax helped the candles hold their shape and not break due to the brittleness of the pure bayberry wax. Most of these candles were only burned during the darkest times of the year. Therefore, a ritual of burning the bayberry candle at Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve became a tradition.

This candle was lit at a specific time, so it stays burning after midnight. The candle remained alight until it burned out on its own. “If the candle burned down to the socket, abundance would bless everyone participating in the ritual,” according to the tradition.

Candle Poems

Verse 1

This bayberry candle comes from a friend
So on Christmas Eve burn it down to the end.
For a bayberry candle burned to the socket,
Will bring joy to the heart and gold to the pocket.

Verse 2

Here’s a Bayberry Candle that’s meant just for you,
With Holiday Tradition that’s tried and true.
When you light this candle on Christmas Eve Day,
Love and Luck come to you when it’s burned all the way!

Verse 3

To bring good luck for a year,
you must burn a Bayberry Candle on Christmas Day.
And if the flame burns bright, and the light shines clear,
then heaven will bless you all the year.

“A slightly different version of the invocation delivers the same message: ‘A bayberry candle burned to the socket brings luck to the household, food to the larder and gold to the pocket.’”

We hope that burning this candle on Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve will bring you good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.

If you are looking for this candle, Seeds of Wellness sells bayberry votive and pillar candles made by Sacred Path Candles.

Too Stressed to Sleep: How to Sleep Well When Everything is Going Wrong

November 15, 2019 By Seeds of Wellness Leave a Comment

Article by Cheryl Conklin

You know the feeling. It’s the one you get when your car breaks down the day after a family member passes away, or your boss announces mandatory overtime right before all of your kids catch the flu. Sometimes, it feels like everything that could go wrong does. And to make it all worse, you’re too busy worrying and stressed out about everything to catch a wink of sleep.

Man with sleep problems — Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

It’s common to face sleep problems in times of high stress, but this is when you need rest the most. The worse you sleep, the worse your stress gets. If you don’t get your stress under control, it could lead to depression or anxiety. According to Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine, people with insomnia are five times more likely to develop depression and 20 times more likely to develop anxiety than people who get a healthy amount of rest. A few good nights of sleep, on the other hand, could dramatically boost your mood and make what’s stressing you seem manageable after all.

If you’re too stressed to sleep, do something about it. These tips will help you get to rest so you can take on life’s challenges with your well-being intact.

Make your bedroom a sleep haven

Your bedroom should be a place you look forward to at the end of the day. Keep anything that’s not related to sleep out of the bedroom, including work, TV, and your kids. If you associate the bedroom with activities other than sleep, you’re more likely to think about them when lying in bed.

Eliminate anything else that threatens to disrupt your rest. Light creeping under doorways, noise from outdoors, and hot, stuffy temperatures all need to go. If your old mattress has you waking up with back pain, recycle it and buy a new one. Don’t worry about driving a mattress home or what to look for in a mattress store. With all of the bed-in-a-box mattresses available today, you can research, buy, and receive a mattress without leaving your house. Most are cheaper than what you’ll find in a mattress store, too. Purple mattresses, for example, fall in the middle of the bed-in-a-box price range at $699-$1,299, depending on size.

Establish a regular sleep schedule

Consistency is the most important part of healthy sleep habits. When you go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, your body’s biological clock adapts to that schedule. That makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning. It’s fine to vary your sleep and wake times on weekends but stay within 30 minutes to an hour of your normal sleep schedule to avoid disrupting the routine.

It can be hard to adopt a bedtime if you’re not accustomed to it. To help your body adapt, shift sleep times gradually — about 30 minutes to an hour per day — and do something relaxing before bed to wind down for sleep. Instead of using electronics, which keep your mind alert, try reading a book, journaling, meditating, stretching, or listening to relaxing music. Avoid thinking about anything stressful before bed. If there are bills to pay or chores to be done, make time in the morning.

Find time for exercise

It’s counterintuitive, but when you’re stressed, exhausted, and can’t sleep, working out is one of the best things you can do. Exercise is a natural mood booster, improves the quality of your sleep, and helps you feel alert during the day. You’ll reap even more benefits if you exercise outdoors, as sunlight helps regulate your body’s biological clock and lifts your mood. You may want to avoid vigorous exercise right before bed, however. Some people find aerobic exercise before bed interferes with sleep. If that’s the case for you, schedule intense workouts earlier in the day and stick to yoga and stretching before bed.

The times when life feels out of control are when you need self-care the most. Sleep, while often neglected, is one of the most powerful forms of self-care there is. Whereas sleepless nights make everything seem harder, quality rest is the fuel you need to take life’s challenges in stride.

Seeds of Wellness offers a variety of products to help you sleep better including CBD products. Call 440-933-7733 or stop in to learn how we may be able to help you sleep better.

Essential Oils to Decrease Anxiety

November 1, 2019 By Seeds of Wellness Leave a Comment

Life is filled with problems–stress, diseases, toxins, pain, grief, bugs, annoying people, etc. Unfortunately, for some of us, these problems result in anxiety, stress and panic attacks. Anxiety is not triggered by actual events but by our thoughts about those events. Adding essential oils to your daily routine may help.

According to the American Psychological Association, “Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.”

Even though “anxiety can be very annoying. It is a challenge. There is always a benefit in every adversity. Anxiety forces us to become wiser and more courageous. It turns us into heroes. – Dr. Detlef Beeker”

So what can we do to help reduce our anxiety and stress? Smelling one or more essential oils using a diffuser. Also, try sprinkling a few drops on an object or clothing may help. Amanda Lattin, chair of aromatherapy at the American College of Healthcare Sciences, says “how a person reacts to aromatherapy is very individualized. ‘Part of what makes aromatherapy effective is how our brains and our central nervous systems respond to this olfaction stimulus,’ she says. ‘It’s absolutely true that what works for one person may not work for another, or could even have the opposite effect.’” (1)

“According to experts, while essential oils have a very strong aroma, it is not the aroma itself that has a beneficial effect. The overall chemicals used in making the essential oil have a chemical and physiological effect on the body and brain chemistry.” (2)

Are you experiencing severe anxiety, panic attacks, and phobia? Please seek medical help before trying these essential oils.

Lavender

We know lavender for its calming effects. “The new study, published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, suggests that sniffing a compound in lavender–called linaloo–affects the same parts of the brain as anti-anxiety drugs, only without impairing movement the way medicines like Valium can. Linalool was also found to affect the brain by smell alone, without being absorbed into the bloodstream—another potential plus for people worried about medication side effects or interactions.” (1)

“In research done by Diego and his colleagues, it has been proven that the people who received lavender oil olfaction for about 3 minutes felt significantly relaxed and had a decrease of anxiety scores. They had also improved their mood and increased their EEG, an indicator of one’s level of alertness.” (3)

Bergamot

As one of the most popular essential oils for depression and anxiety, bergamot helps reduce nerves, agitation, and insomnia. “When compared to people using a placebo, bergamot blended with lavender oil caused a significant reduction in pulse rate and blood pressure with participants rating themselves more relaxed and calmer than those who used the placebo.” (4)

“It has been proven that bergamot essential oil reduces corticosterone response to stress and applying on the skin helps in treating anxiety and depression. This oil also reduces the pulse rate and blood pressure in an individual. People tend to feel more relaxed and calm after inhaling this essential oil.” (2)

Chamomile

Many people drink chamomile tea to help them relax and to fall asleep. “While many studies have shown how chamomile can help calm your mind, it can also help to relieve stress and improve digestion. Additionally, a study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine that focused on the antidepressant effects of chamomile found that, in addition to decreasing anxiety, chamomile essential oil may also provide clinically significant antidepressant activity.” (5)

Sandalwood

“Looking for increased mental clarity and focus? When you’re dealing with the challenging demands of the daily grind, having a moment of harmony and peace is essential for your overall well-being and mental health. Sandalwood oil, with its amazing woody aroma, has a powerful therapeutic effect on the brain’s limbic system and is an excellent emotional balancer.” (6)

Ylang-Ylang

Extracted from a tropical tree native to the Philippines, Ylang-Ylang goes directly to the brain when smelled. “It’s said to expand one’s heart and release anger, jealousy, and other negative emotions. Thus, it’s an effective anti-depressant and is often used to treat natural depression and mild anxiety. Its mild sedative effects can lower stress response like high blood pressure and fast heartbeat.” (3)

“A Korean study published in 2006 found that a combination of ylang–ylang oil with lavender and bergamot oil helped reduce blood pressure as well as stress response and human cortisol levels. In the study, patients inhaled the combination of oils twice a day for a period of 4 weeks.” (4)

“People should be careful while handling ylang-ylang essential oil because it can be irritating to sensitive skin. You also need to avoid this essential oil if you have low blood pressure. Other than that, the relaxing and calming aura of this oil will bring you immediate calm and peace.” (2)

Want to learn more about essential oils to help decrease your anxiety? Seeds of Wellness offers classes on essential oils with doTERRA Wellness Advocate, MaryAmber Hughes. Visit our Events & Classes webpage or call us at 440-933-7733 to learn about our upcoming essential oils class.

Sources:

(1) “Do Essential Oils Work for Anxiety – and What Are the Best Ones?” on Health.com

(2) “The Best Doterra Essential Oils for Anxiety” by Lea Harrison on Essential Oil Diffuser USA

(3) “Essential Oils that Help with Stress and Anxiety” by Emma Carter on Essential Oil Haven

(4) “7 Essential Oils for Anxiety and Depression” on Healthy Focus

(5) “11 Best Essential Oils for Anxiety (2019 Aromatherapy Review” on Developing Good Habits

(6) “Top 17 Best Essential Oils for Stress and Anxiety – And How to Use Them” on Up Nature