Launch of Amazing Natural Shampoos and Cleansers "

Have you ever wondered what ingredients are contained in the body products we all use every day? Let’s take shampoos and anti-bacterial handwashes as the example. A principal ingredient is iso-propyl alcohol. It comes in many disguises, is a by-product of the petroleum industry and serves as antifreeze in the motor industry! In factories there are warnings about handling hazardous chemicals like xylene and toluene other aliases for the same thing. Propyl alcohol is put in ever popular anti-bacterial hand washes; ironically the substance inhibits the skin’s ability to protect against bacteria, molds and fungus. These are the pathogens it is supposed to protect you against. It doesn’t make any sense at all!

Chronic illness has been on the rise. The Centre for Disease Control tells us in the 32 years from 1975 to 2007 that the incidence of cancer has shifted from 400 cases per 100,000 population to 461 in 2007. WHO figures for Thailand for 2002 have cancer as the number 1 cause of death with a rate of 73.3 cases per 100,000 population. This had risen dramatically from 26.1 cases in 1982. Is it any wonder when chemically toxic products flood the market place and consumer awareness of these dangers is minimal?

Dr. Teuro Higa, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, has developed EM Technology, this stands for “effective microorganism”. His initial research in the 1980s reported that up to 80 microorganisms were effective in decomposing negative organic matter and created healthy regeneration instead. Decaying and pathologically dangerous matter can revert to a “life promoting” process thanks to the positive micro-organisms present in the EM liquids. This natural health giving bacteria works in the same way as probiotics which are very popular in natural medicine. Good bacteria create a balance against the bad bacteria ever present in the eco-system we call the gut.

This amazing technology is reported to support sustainable practices in agriculture as well as forming a new frontier in the improvement of health and hygiene. The EM process was used during the recent floods in Bangkok. Inundation creates an ideal environment for the disease process to flourish. Often natural disasters are followed by epidemics of illnesses like cholera and dysentery. This was not the case in Bangkok and it seems that similar positive results have emerged in other areas EM has been used; these include the 2004 Tsunami, the Kobe earthquake and in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina. A huge database of research has not been conducted on these life saving techniques, but empirical evidence suggests Dr Higa has presented the world with a great gift. This gift is simple. Release “Effective Microorganisms” into flood water and let the live bacteria do their work!

The fruits of the Sapindus trees have been used for eons in natural medicine, particularly the Indian system of Ayurveda. This relative of the lychee is a natural source of, chemical free soap.  The Sapindus fruit, a native of temperate Asia provides an emulsion that foams in water. It has been around a lot longer than  westernized soap and to good effect. In Ayurveda it is used for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. It is something that promotes skin health and is devoid of pernicious by products like propyl alcohol. Common sense dictates that we should be washing ourselves with these natural soaps, but the story gets better still.

Someone has come along and launched a product line of body washes, shampoos and cleaning agents that combine the probiotic potency of the EM technology with  the amorphous glycosides of the sapindus fruit to  make an outstanding series of soaps and cleaners that enhance the body’s good bacteria and thus stimulate the system to preserve  healthy immunity that truly does everything the chemical hand washes pretend to do; it also balances nature’s eco-system so that streams and rivers are oxygenated, supporting new life and a clean water table.  The line is called “Blue Sky”. If you would like help in sourcing any of these things, simply use the website link to make contact."

This article first appeared in "The Southern Times of October 13th 2012

Alister Bredee

Koh Samui, September 2012

Look Years Younger by Reversing your Greying Hair.

Grey hair tends to be ageing; I think we all agree! Though, more and more people are going grey earlier. Why is that? They say the age the hair turns grey is determined by the genes.  If your parents turned grey young, then you stand a statistically good chance of doing the same. The rate, however, your hair loses its original lustrous colour is rather up to you!

This is not entirely a matter of conscious choice but depends on how you have taken care of your health. When we are twenty it is possible to drink a bottle of vodka and smoke a pack of cigarettes each day, but as we grow older this is no longer viable.  Besides the earlier health risks do begin to show their negative fruits sooner than we would have liked. It really pays to take good care of you, because this provides a safeguard against premature ill health. This translates into vibrant mental, emotional and physical wellbeing into old age. Cigarettes for example contain approximately 600 toxins including arsenic and strychnine. The ingestion of smoke makes the system very acidic which betrays itself in wrinkled dry skin as well as early grey hair. Both of these make us look older than we really are. Other factors that contribute to the hair changing colour include anemia. There are two types; one is characterized by a lack of iron which is best described as a megoblastic condition and the other, pernicious anemia, which is a digestive complication that causes Vitamin B12 deficiency. To counteract the effects one needs to look at the full spectrum of B Vitamins. It is important they are kept in balance and contain a natural form of B12 to complete the synthesis.

An imbalance of B vitamins is poor nutrition but so is poor diet characterized by fast foods, deep frying and an overabundance of starchy carbohydrates. This sort of eating pattern comes at the expense of life giving fruits and fresh vegetables.

Often when the hair begins to lighten because the keratin or pigment producing cells start to die off, people panic and begin to consider the advantages of hair dyes. Hair dyes provide artificial pigmentation. Most dyes depend upon hydrogen peroxide to give the illusion that natural coloration has been re-established. Hair bleach on its own gives a brassy blond shade, but it is also used to strip the hair of its natural colour, so the artificial dye can take a hold.   Bleaching is extremely harmful. It produces dry and brittle hair follicles which have a natural propensity to greyness unless the chemical product is incessantly reapplied. Over 60% of dyes contain P-Phenylenediamine; this is classified as a toxin by the EU. This chemical is shown to  affect the skin, immune and respiratory system as well as the liver. Other chemicals present include ammonia and resorcinol. This has been shown to disrupt hormonal function in rats. It has also been exposed to cause hypothyroidism. In recent years low thyroid function, especially in women, has reached epidemic proportions. This has given rise to low blood pressure and decreased levels of progesterone with a knock on result of high estrogen intensities. This leads to PMT and fat and cellulite build up around the waist and hips. Some dyes even contain lead acetate; this causes a heavy metal overload. What to do about hair dyes? Well, supposedly natural hair dyes contain fewer toxic chemicals, so that is a start. It seems the darker you wish to colour the more risks are involved.

However, there are some preferable natural alternatives. Copper is said to stop greying. You can purchase a supplement or Organic Black Strap Molasses has a high Copper content. You can lighten hair colour with honey or the herb rosemary and for darker shades Henna is an excellent choice. It may appear too red for some but an auburn tint has always been attractive!

That’s all for this week. If you have questions we are happy to respond. Contact us through the website.

Makam Pom Will Make You Healthy, Wealthy and .....

"Embilica Officinalis, a fine sounding Latin name, is more easily known as the Indian Gooseberry or Amla Berry. Unlike the small, green, astringent gooseberries that grow on bushes in Europe these are the fruit of a tree, which can grow as high as eighteen metres. They are found in Issan and similar areas that are less tropical than the lush South. The berries grow in clumps; they are light green to yellowish pink in colour. You will find a fibrous interior whilst the taste is sour to bitter. They resemble the Tamarind and have the name Manila Tamarind in the Philippines.

In Hindustan, which in historical terms is that area of India lying between the Himalayas and the Vindayas, with Delhi as the capital and the Ganges as the main artery; the Amla is considered sacred to the Goddess Lakshmi. Not only is she the consort of the Hindu God Vishnu she is also the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. If you have an Amala tree on your land this is considered to be extremely lucky. Not only will this bring you wealth but it is said to protect the householders from all kinds of misery and money related dilemmas. If you are unfortunate enough to be without a tree, eating the fruit is likely to bring you many benefits, too!

The berries provide an excellent source of natural vitamin C. Unfortunately most of the so called vitamin C on the market is synthetic, ascorbic acid. It is made in a laboratory; it’s popular because it is cheap. A sad fact of life is you get what you pay for. Synthetic vitamin C serves a purpose but lacks the vital spark of life which stands in its way of making a truly effective anti-oxidant. Amla contains twenty times more vitamin C by weight than oranges. This is why it is labeled a super food.

In 1988 the “International Journal of Cardiology” compared three Indian botanicals; these were tested on rabbits. The Indian Gooseberry was one of those natural extracts... All three were found to lower cholesterol. A later Japanese study confirmed these findings. Amla is a favoured ayurvedic medicine. The dried powder or a tincture administered in doses of approximately 30 mg per kilo of body weight was found to significantly reduce blood cholesterol levels. Admittedly, we are not rats, but the study suggests if it is good for rats, it’s also good for humans. Wouldn’t it be a lot better to take a couple of grams of quality vitamin C on a daily basis than embark on a course of treatment involving the Statin drugs which your doctor is so keen on prescribing? Statins have significant side effects. Aside from constipation, skin rashes and insomnia; if you read the warnings on the leaflets that accompany the medication; you will see cautions about memory loss, mental confusion and the possibility of diabetes. They don’t mention the other hidden drawbacks like loss of libido, liver damage and even heart attack, something the statins are supposedly protecting us from!

Other studies have shown that Makam Pom has had a positive effect on kidney disease by improving creatinine and urea nitrogen levels whilst reducing blood pressure. Vitamins, minerals and other natural products take time to become truly effective. This slow approach requires patience. However, you will most certainly see an improvement if you give them at least 90 days to be truly effective.

In Thailand, Amla powder is also used in cosmetics. One product combines Makam Pom and Rice bran oil. It is designed to removes dead skin scales and improve the overall complexion. Another using Amla and Samor Thai promotes luxuriant hair growth. It has also been shown to reverse male pattern baldness. That makes sense because of the high anti-oxidant levels and excellent tannins found in the formula. Recently, another manufacturer launched a range of natural soaps and cleansers. Amla is found in the “Body Wash”. If you would like help in sourcing any of these things, simply use the website link to make contact. "

This article first appeared in "The Southern Times", edition # 1 on 6th October 2012

Alister Bredee

September 2012