Sunburns 101

School's out and playing outside is everyone's first choice!  Always, always, always put sun screen on everyone, everywhere!   The sun emits two strong ultraviolet rays called UVA and UVB rays. These harmful rays actually kill your skin cells. Your immune system is designed to get rid of these dead cells, so it increases blood flow to the burned area. This is the reason for the redness and warm sensations. Once the dead skin is removed, you are left with a darker color designed to prevent further sun damage. Though a tan is desirable to many people, the skin damage is not.

In spite of those facts, it's likely that you or your child may experience a sunburn sometime this summer.  If you do, here are some alternative health remedies that can help!


Herbal Trim is a skin treatment containing aloe vera and other herbal remedies that usually stops pain immediately and nourishes the damaged skin.


Combination Potassium and some form of vitamin C (like Citrus Bioflavenoids or Vitamin C Ascorbate)  are important to take internally, especially with severe burns.  These are usually depleted in the body after time spent in the heat and direct sun.


Raw apple cider vinegar, directly on the burn or 2 cups mixed with 1 box of baking soda in a bath, is helpful for severe pain relief.


Sunburns are not things to play around with so remember: Always wear sunscreen and always remedy and nourish sunburns!

Who Are You Really Under All That Garbage?

In our first hand experiences, the body, especially the immune system,  behaves differently under varying circumstances.   When your insides are fed lots of stress, very little sleep, not enough real food, toxins (aluminum, bleach, BPA, lawn chemicals, etc.) no exercise or a combination of all, the result is usually far different than a healthy, clean body with a well-fed immune system.

If you suffer from chronic allergies or seem to be attacked by every bacteria or bug on the block, it's likely that you are suffering from a combination of these conditions in the body.  If you've never experienced what it's like to be fed well, sleep enough, be relatively free of toxins, then you don't know what you're missing!  More energy, less illness and often the decrease or elimination of smaller ailments like acne, body odor, weight gain and joint pain are some things you can begin to experience.

As summer is fast approaching, make a commitment with yourself to try cleaning up house, so to speak.

-Eat more real food (whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats) and cut out the white flour, sugar and fake processed foods.

-Get enough sleep.  Sleep is a cheap attitude adjustment!

-Find ways to eliminate or cope with stress.  Keep a journal.  Make a weekly date with yourself.

-Look for alternatives to aluminum, BPA and bleach in your cooking at home.

-Exercise!! Do anything that gets your heart rate up, blood pumping and starts you sweating!  This makes EVERYTHING work better.

How much better would your life be with these few adjustments?

Giveaway on Facebook

Have you checked out The Herb Garden on Facebook?  It's a great way to find tips, recipes, supplement information, coupons and chances to win free products!  Next week we are giving away a bottle of Vitamin D3 a follower on facebook!  To be entered, like our page and leave us a comment.  You enter once a day!

Coming very soon are some new promotional programs from Nature's Sunshine - including ways to get FREE SHIPPING and FREE PRODUCT! Stay tuned!

Herb Highlight: Barley Juice Powder

Barley, a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain, serves as a major animal feed, used to make beer and certain distilled beverages, and used in soups, stews and bread.  Barely Juice Powder, like Nature's Sunshine's product, uses barley greens extracted from young barley plant leaves, which can assist in the build-up of strong anti-viral properties and helps boost the immune system.

These greens are rich in minerals, detoxifiers, chlorophyll, blood cleansers and enzymes.  Barley Juice Powder provides more vitamin B1 and calcium than milk, more vitamin C than several oranges, more iron than found in a serving of spinach, all 8 essential amino acids, flavenoids, chromium, potassium and made up of 20% protein.  Talk about a powerhouse supplement!

Barley juice has been used to help strengthen the pancreas, gallbladder and spleen, regulate stomach function, build healthy blood cells, moisten dryness, soothe inflamed membranes and support the nerves. Barley juice's mildly laxative effect helps to cleanse the intestinal tract, while its supply of enzymes helps to break down indigestible or toxic substances in foods.

Barley juice itself is easy to digest, making it an excellent nutritional supplement for convalescents and invalids.  Many drink barley juice to promote longevity!

Herb Highlight: Alfalfa

Alfalfa has been cultivated for over 2,000 years as a nutritive food for people and livestock.  Historically it has been used as a remedy for all types of inflammation including arthritis, gout and rheumatism.    Modern herbalists consider it very rich in nutrients and use it to help build the blood. Alfalfa's roots grow deep, providing the plant with a rich source of nutrients not always found at the ground's surface.

Alfalfa is also a great source of betaine, a digestive enzyme, that makes it a great digestive tonic, helping to improve digestion, assimilate nutrients and stimulate appetite.  For this reason alfalfa has been shown to be helpful for treating anorexia, convalescence, debility, emaciation and weak digestion.

Alfalfa is not recommended  for individuals with autoimmune disorders.

The Road to Health Accepts Baby Steps

Until changes become habits, they do your body very little good.  A sustainable program, something you will continue for more than a week, is what brings abundant living.  Too often, especially at the beginning of a new year, we vow to lose weight, exercise more, eat better, etc., but by March everything is forgotten.   This year, why not choose a better road to personal success. No goal of better health can be achieved over night or with drastic changes that your body resists. Baby steps are steps just the same. 

Instead of changing everything this month, commit to just one.  As you find small successes, continuing isn’t so hard.

- Drink only water.

- Eat raw fruits or veggies with meals.

- Exercise somehow every day.

- Eat meals from home.

- Maintain a supplement regimen  

Focus on one thing you CAN do and don’t get bogged down by the things you can’t.  Doing any one of these consistently can bring drastic improvements!

Science Update: Krill Oil with Vitamin K2 and Astaxanthin

Krill oil is a source of highly bioavailable omega-3 fatty acids extracted from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) that contains phospholipids, which bind to the omega-3s allowing for better absorption. These phospholipids are an essential component of all cell membranes, keeping toxins out and letting more nutrients and oxygen in. Krill oil also contains natural astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant, and NSP Krill Oil adds the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin K2.

Info about Krill Oil with Vitamin K2 and Astaxanthin:

• Contains omega-3 fatty acids.
• Helps maintains a healthy heart.
• Supports healthy brain function.
• Provides joint and skin support.
• Is extracted from Antarctic krill.

Learn more about Antarctic Krill.