What's on the Table!? ~ Health and Beauty Care with the Natural Intelligence of Plants and Herbs

We love stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) for skin care! This is why we make use of this plant in products for both external and internal benefit at bee23.ca . In Part One we share from our Clinical Herbalist Diploma thesis, 'Natural Beauty is Anything but Skin Deep: An Exploration of Urtica dioica on the Skin Aesthetic via Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, and Immune System,' how stinging nettle is able to get to the very bones of our skin care woes by strengthening connective tissue. We will continue in Part Two with experts from this thesis concerning the anti-inflammatory capabilities of this all-purpose green powerhouse, and why this is important to include in our overall skin care regimen.  Inflammation is now recognized as a risk for age-related diseases and can have impact on the deterioration of the musculoskeletal system. Stinging nettle is a powerful anti-inflammatory, for both topical and internal use having impact on the musculoskeletal system and subsequently our ...

For those of you ready to dig deeper into your beauty vibe we are going to share our Clinical Herbalist thesis findings from ‘Natural Beauty is Anything but Skin Deep: An Exploration of Urtica dioica on the Skin Aesthetic via the Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, and Immune System,’ in 3 separate parts starting at the bones of this discussion, because we are so fascinated with how it all works together. We know if you are serious about your health and skin care this information will be of the utmost importance to you, even if you only absorb a few snippets! Studies show that there is a connection between the deterioration and dryness of skin and osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and various bone pathologies. This is a reasonable assumption considering connective tissue is responsible for the fortitude of our bones, hair, nails, and skin. Connective tissue has a role in the storage, absorption and disposal of waste from the body, it transports vitamins, nutrients and oxygen, while a...

"Just like the rose holds her beauty among the thorns - we can gather our strength from the most unlikely places."  - Christine Evangelou That's me standing in recognition of wearing a leopard print visor from Miami harvesting my Nana's wild rose bushes amidst our lush green Northwestern Ontario vegetation. And then all of a sudden just like that we are a Golden Girl! But I digress from our topic of Rose the Forgotten Queen. Hildegard of Bingen in the 12th century states that, “Rose strengthens any potion or ointment or any other medication when it is added to it."  When we created our blends originally for ‘maturing,’ dry and damaged skin, we wanted the Queen of high vibes in our formulas. Although we get excited about working with new plants and herbs on the daily, we keep coming back to the awe inspiring transcendental nature of the rose. We know that rose oil carries the highest frequency or vibration and when added to any other blend of oils, raising the t...

We talk to this 'We are Royal' Queen (and long time Hotty Balm fan) Alicia Bucknor about how she keeps her natural beauty aglow, even under the pressure cooker of a busy artisan lifestyle with a household to tend to, and a fashion line to curate.  We cover her big TRU Beauty Confession asking Alicia to step up for herself and family, along with really rich daily must-knows to give your own royal crown a boost. One of Alicia's must-haves in her kitchen for beauty is Sea Moss. So what's with all this Moss talk!? Click here to Listen Now to TRU Beauty Confessions Podcast! Benefits of Sea Moss Medically reviewed by different scientists, sea moss is known to be very rich in minerals and nutrients, which is why it has become popular in everything from skincare to smoothies.  This seaweed is called ‘the powerhouse’ for a reason. Sea moss has 92 of the 110 minerals the body is made from. Definitely makes me think we were Merpeople first! I digress, we are talking beta-car...

Strawberry leaves have a long history of being used as an herbal remedy. Wild strawberries have more condensed healing properties, but conventional ones will get the job done. Strawberry leaves, like other leaves and herbs, can be used to make a healing tea to treat diarrhea, aid in digestion, combat nausea, and settle an upset stomach. Tannins in strawberry leaves have low pH levels and serve as a strong digestive. One cup of strawberry leaf tea contains enough tannins to ease symptoms. Strawberry tops are also loaded with caffeic acid, a compound that alleviates inflammation which is good news for arthritis sufferers. Infusing your water with the leafy tops of strawberries also adds flavour, and helps to use up those excess pieces that are headed to the compost bin. This works especially well if you’ve cut off too much of the strawberry meat. To make, place your cleaned strawberry tops into a lidded container and top with water. Let sit in the refrigerator for a few hours, and sip (...

Diana’s special beauty brew of collagen , cordyceps, lion’s mane, reishi mushroom, dandelion, cinnamon and...coffee. Looking for a beauty boost! You may want to try this. Warranted coffee can be dehydrating, it is a tiny morning habit of mine that I have been cutting down to one cup. We all have our vices. Nevertheless, my kitchen Diva Diana, 'the hostess with the mostest,' who does not drink coffee worked up a special brew for me that she felt was much more conducive to a healthy glow, then a single cup of Joe. The best part is you can totally replace the coffee with Dandy Blend, a dandelion instant drink that tastes like coffee. Add each based on serving instructions into your cup of morning brew, and stir: Collagen powder. Collagen is found in connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage. It provides structural support to tissues and plays important roles in cellular processes, including tissue repair, immune response, cellular communication, and cellular mi...

  It is always about the lines, and in Episode 6 of TRU Beauty Confessions Michelle and Zhana take on the saying, “no pain, no gain,’ at least when that comes to the world of beauty and the body. Is a healthy, fit body not within our reach, if for whatever reason we can no longer sweat it out with the latest hardcore fitness phenomenon!? We look at how ‘gentle’ does not just benefit your overall well being but gets the results you are looking for. Zhana explores the unrealistic view of her body through the eyes of the dance world, while also breaking down physical barriers as to what is possible. She shares how she frees herself from a limiting medical and societal narrative by listening to her body. Zhana walks us through her journey from illness, to discovery, to recovery, and now a whole-body vitality. We are excited to share Zhana’s beauty secrets and exercise tips that anyone can do from home to start their own healthy and healing fitness journey. Zhana is a stretching instru...

Many people underestimate the power of drinking water and the positive affects it can have on your skin and your overall health. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, protecting you, storing lipids and water, preventing fluid loss and serving as thermoregulation. Drinking more water is the most natural way to get that beaming, glowing and healthy skin we all want. Let’s take a look at 7 ways drinking water helps improve skin. 1. Sagging Skin Rapid shedding of fat or extreme weight loss may cause sagging skin. Many people tighten their skin by water fasting, but this is an unhealthy method and can actually do grave damage to your skin. By drinking ample amounts of water day-in and day-out, you can slowly tighten your skin and maintain a healthy glow. 2. pH Balance It is important to maintain a good pH balance in your skin. The pH of any substance ranges from 0-14 with 14 containing the most alkaline and 0 being highly acidic. A pH value of 7 is neutral and is the exact pH valu...