How to stimulate your vagus nerve for better emotional and physical wellbeing

May 3, 2021 · 2 Comments

By Dr Carrie Rigoni, Chiropractor

The vagus nerve is the largest nerve in the body, and it is strongly connected to our health and vitality. Today I am sharing my tips for how to stimulate your vagus nerve for better emotional and physical wellbeing.

Mums are notoriously burnt out, I mean, being “on” 24/7 to ensure our kids are ok is a huge undertaking. Not to mention the sleep deprivation, postpartum nutrient depletion, and the juggle of the rest of our lives thrown in there too!

What I find in my practice is that many mums don’t even know about the vagus nerve and what it can do for their daily health. And me? Well it’s my favourite thing in the world. Firstly because it makes you feel SO GOOD when it’s working well, and secondly because it doesn’t take much to get it to start firing up for those good feels.

The vagus nerve

The vagus nerve runs from your brainstem, through your neck, thorax and abdomen, all the way to your pelvic floor. It has connections to every organ in the body, and supports the body with maintaining all those automatic processes such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and immune response.

But? For every one fibre that exits the brain and connects to an organ, there are nine fibres that send messages from organs up the vagus through to the brain, telling the brain what is going on in the body. So the vagus nerve is very much a sensory nerve, giving feedback about the state of the body (eg. inflammation, infections, stress).

This is important because the other important function of the vagus nerve is it’s ability to sense the environment. You know when you have a gut feeling that something doesn’t feel right? Or you feel uncomfortable around certain people but you can’t put your finger on it? That is your dear vagus nerve kicking in (and consider this my permission slip for you should listen to it).

In terms of maternal depletion and burn out, the vagus nerve plays a big role in keeping us out of a sympathetic dominant state, and back into a state of rest and healing. In fact, the easiest way to know whether your vagus nerve needs help or not is to consider how long it takes for you to get out of the stress response, if you can at all.

Vagal tone

Vagal tone refers to how well your vagus nerve is functioning.

If you have a quick stress response, maybe your child is running away from you towards a busy road, it is healthy and normal for your body to kick into gear and use the sympathetic nervous system to help you help your child.

The key in the process is having the vagus nerve kick in AFTERWARDS, to allow your body to come back to a calmer, lower-stress state. Ie the parasympathetic nervous system. A vagus nerve with high tone will do this process very easily (and you’ll notice the chill people who seem to calm down immediately), whereas a vagus nerve with low tone will struggle to kick in, leaving you in a stressed out state long after the incident has occurred.

This is an issue because we know chronic stress is no good for our overall health and wellbeing!

The link between the vagus nerve and maternal depletion

So we now know that the vagus nerve keeps us out of the chronic stress response. But what it also does it keep our immune system in check (especially the gut microbiome and gut-immune system), reduces our pain responses, keeps our inflammation in check and plays a big role in social engagement – eye contact, wanting to reach out to friends and family, wanting to have conversations with others.

Symptoms of a low-functioning vagus nerve include:

Chronic inflammation
Leaky gut
Food intolerances
Tired but wired
Depression and anxiety
Increased pain
Migraines and headaches
Unexplained weight gain
Feelings of isolation or wanting to isolate yourself from your support network
Insomnia
Feeling depleted and fatigued no matter what you do, what you eat, or how much sleep you get

How to stimulate your vagus nerve to help motherhood feel easier, happier and calmer

If you feel like the vagus nerve is struggling a bit, let’s look at what you can do to support it and start feeling like yourself again! You don’t have to do all of these, but choose a few that resonate most with you and commit to doing them daily.

Eat a low-inflammation diet where you can
- This supports your gut bacteria and decreases stress on the vagus nerve
Get sleep where you can
- Prioritise it, even if it feels selfish – it makes all the difference
Singing (loud) and dancing
- Turn the music up, and sing sing sing!
Gargling
- The quickest and easiest way to do this is in the shower
- Make sure you get that water right to the back of your throat – the key here is stimulating the gag response
Cold showers or dips in the ocean
Nasal breathing
- Take check and see if you breathe through your nose or your mouth
- Consciously seal your lips during the day to breathe exclusively through your nose
Weighted blankets
Eye exercise
- The vagus nerve is stimulated when our eyes look horizontal (ie the opposite of scrolling, which actually decreases our vagus nerve tone)
- Stand up, lift your chin a little and place your hands behind your head
- Keep your head still, move your eyes to the right and find something to hold your focus on
- When your vagus nerve kicks in, you will sigh, or yawn, or feel a calm wash over you
- Then move eyes to the other side and hold again

Doing one or two of these exercises daily will support your vagus nerve and having you feeling more regulated and (hopefully) less depleted. Please note there are some bigger things that affect the vagus nerve that I didn’t touch on in this blog, so if you feel nothing at all it’s likely something else is causing your vagus nerve to be inhibited (in this case it would be worth getting in touch with a practitioner who works with the vagus nerve).

You can also use these exercises in times of stress – for example if you feel like you can’t calm yourself down, or you can’t fall asleep – these exercises come in handy to bring yourself back into balance.

How is your vagus? Could it do with some love and attention?

About Carrie:

Dr Carrie Rigoni is a chiropractor for mums and babies in Perth WA. She works using Applied Kinesiology and Functional Neurology, and has a fondness for the vagus nerve. Her practice is full of children from newborns to teenagers, and mothers from preconception through pregnancy and into the postpartum period. However, absolutely everyone is welcome! She is passionate about educating parents on raising healthy children, and offers a number of online masterclasses (and one online course – Fearless Foodies – learn how introducing food influences your baby’s gut, hormones, brain, and indirectly their vagus nerve!).

Follow Carrie:

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Why I Don’t Recommend Following The Food Pyramid

January 11, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Why I Don’t Recommend Following The Food Pyramid

by Lisa Moane

Many Australians have grown up with guides like the Healthy Eating Food Pyramid. But if you want to make sure you and your family is eating the healthiest diet possible, I do not recommend using the Food Pyramid. Why I Don’t Recommend Following The Food Pyramid

Let’s take a closer look at why the Food Pyramid is not the best option, and what I suggest using instead.

♥ Dairy and grains are over-represented

The sections for dairy and grains are much bigger than what is ideal in a nutritious diet. Dairy has its own food group, even though you can get every nutrient found in dairy elsewhere.

Grains add a significant amount of calories and carbohydrates to the diet, but often not much in terms in micronutrients. Again, the key nutrients in grains such as B vitamins and fibre are found in abundance in other foods.

So why are these two food groups put at the same level as protein sources, fruit and vegetables? Simply because they are cheap. Grains and dairy have become staple foods because they are what people can afford to buy.

Unfortunately, the foods that give you a substantial amount of calories for a low price tag are often not the best for you nutritionally. If you are on a tight budget, I’ve got some tips here.

♥ It’s not designed for optimal wellbeing or supporting illness

Do you think that following the Food Pyramid means you’ll get plenty of essential nutrients? That is often not the case. The recommendations are based on RDIs that are far from the ideal amount of any nutrient.

The Pyramid was also not designed for people who have any chronic health concerns. This seems short-sighted, given the high rate of chronic disease in the Australian population! So if you or a family member have any significant health concerns, this tool is not appropriate.

♥ It takes years for the Pyramid to reflect what we know about nutrition

The majority of nutritionists have known for years that the low-fat approach is not healthy or balanced. But it took until 2015 for the Food Pyramid to be updated regarding fat intake. Even the latest version emphasises low fat products and doesn’t recognise how critical healthy fats are.

In many ways, the Food Pyramid is constantly out of date – it does not reflect the latest nutrition research available.

♥ Everyone has unique dietary needs

Everybody is different in terms of what they need and what doesn’t suit them. For some, a lower carbohydrate approach is best. For others, there may be allergies or intolerances that mean foods need to be removed. What you need also depends on your goals.

The Food Pyramid simply cannot offer enough guidance to allow for personalised nutrition. It cannot guide you about what to eat if your child has ADHD or autism and refuses food. Nor can it tell you that a child with asthma may need to go dairy-free. This is where working with a qualified nutritionist is the best option.

♥ What about the Australian Guide To Healthy Eating?

Another diet guideline I’m often asked about is the Australian Guide To Healthy Eating. This plate-based approach has many of the same issues as the food pyramid.

The grain-based foods make up nearly 1/3 of the plate – more than the vegetable and legumes section! It contains a dairy section that emphasises low-fat, and the fats section includes canola and margarine.

If you followed these guidelines as a template for how you eat, you would not get enough key nutrients.

♥ What do I recommend instead?

When it comes to you or your child, there are a few steps that I often recommend:

Focus on adding in nutrient-dense foods – the more nutritious wholefoods that you include into your diet, the more essential nutrients you give your body. For many, it’s easier to add in foods rather than taking the less healthy foods out. Examples of nutrient dense foods include berries, organ meats and eggs. For more about the best foods to add into your child’s diet, check out this article.

Switch processed foods for healthier alternatives – what if the go-to staples in your house include cereal, flavoured yoghurt and biscuits? In this case, it can be easier to switch for better alternatives. That way, it’s not a huge change to make and is more likely to stick! You can find my favourite swaps for kids here.

Work towards a nutritious day on a plate – for those who do better with visual tools like the food pyramid, this is my go-to. It emphasises nutrient-dense foods such as organ meats, vegetables, fermented foods and water. As with any guide, it does need to be tailored based on the needs and any intolerances or allergies. But it’s a great starting point for parents to start offering better balanced meals.

Do you struggle with feeding your child a variety of healthy foods? Why I Don’t Recommend Following The Food Pyramid

About Lisa:

Lisa Moane is a qualified Nutritionist, Food Scientist and GAPS practitioner.

Lisa works with children and families to restore their health and wellbeing. Her focus is always to get to the root cause of disease, and embrace symptoms as vital clues in this journey.

Lisa has a special interest in children’s health, gut health and auto-immune disease.

Her training as an engineer and food scientist makes her a natural problem solver, putting all the pieces of the health puzzle together and finding a workable solution.

Lisa runs a busy practice in the Illawarra, seeing clients in person and virtually, across Australia.

Follow Lisa:

Holistic Health By Lisa Moane Website

Holistic Health By Lisa Moane Facebook

Holistic Health By Lisa Moane Instagram

The Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorants

August 9, 2018 · 4 Comments

The Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorants

When natural deodorants first came out, they were a bit hit and miss. Mostly consisting of salt water or crystal sticks, they just didn’t cut it when living in a sub-tropical climate. It was so frustrating (and smelly!)

Thankfully these days, there are natural deodorants that actually work and are just as good (I’m going to say better) than conventional deodorants. We are now spoilt for choice with many clever people making great natural deodorants that are way better for our health.

So here it is : The Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorants! I hope you find it interesting and a great resource to refer back to.

Deodorant or Antiperspirant?

Here’s the thing with natural deodorants – they are not antiperspirants. Antiperspirants work by blocking our sweat glands to stop us sweating (usually with aluminium!!). Deodorants stop the odour, not the sweating.

Sweating is good! It’s a natural body process to help us stay cool and eliminate toxins. It’s not the sweat that smells – it’s the bacteria under our arms that makes us smell whiffy.

So, a deodorant to keep the smelly bacteria under control but still lets our body eliminate toxins naturally is the ideal.

Why use a natural deodorant?

Conventional deodorants contain some very nasty toxins that are applied close to two of your body’s major lymph glands! As mentioned, anything that is an antiperspirant will also block your sweat glands.

Here are some toxins that can be found in conventional deodorants and what The Chemical Maze has to say about them:

Aluminium – linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. “Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity”.

Parabens – a hormone disruptor (find out more here). “Suspected endocrine disruption”.

Propylene Glycol – “Suspected respiratory, immuno and neurotoxicity”.

Phthalates – ” Suspected endocrine, liver, kidney, reproductive, developmental, immuno and neurotoxicity”

Triclosan – “Allergic reactions, sense organ and immunotoxicity”

Fragrance – “Allergic reactions, asthma, suspected immuno and neurotoxicity”

All of these chemicals are suggested by The Chemical Maze to be best avoided.

There have been some studies that linked antiperspirants /deodorants with breast cancer. However more recent studies say we need more information and the results are not conclusive.

You know my stance on these things – if there is a doubt, err on the side of caution! Logically, it doesn’t make sense to interfere with your body’s natural processes, so embrace the sweat and go natural to kill the smell.

Tips for Using a Natural Deodorant

You should always apply deodorant to very dry, clean skin that has no soap residue. Washing and drying thoroughly keeps bacteria at bay and helps the natural deodorant to do its job more effectively. Some people even swear by exfoliating your pits regularly with a face cloth, so that’s something to try!

Some deodorants will sting if applied to freshly shaved skin, so leave the shaving or waxing to night time when you don’t have to use deodorant.

On really, really hot days when you are doing a lot of physical activity, then you may need a second application. If you need to reapply, give your skin a bit of a wash and dry first, if you can, to help the deodorant work better.

Pit Detoxing

Unfortunately first time users of natural deodorants often give up because they don’t realise their pits are detoxing from using conventional deodorant.

It can take up to two weeks for your pits to detox and get healthy! You might experience redness, itchiness, rashes or strong odour. If your pits don’t settle down after two weeks or so, you may need to try a different brand. Earth Purities make a product specifically for detoxing your pits, called Detox-A-PIt. Its designed to help draw out the toxins and heavy metals and correct the imbalances in the bacteria that cause the odour and irritation.

I haven’t used this one so I can’t comment on the effectiveness but it is an option for you to consider if you are having real trouble with switching to a natural deodorant. Check out some more info about how it works and some feedback here.

Get Earth Purities pit detox paste here.

What is the best natural deodorant?

I can’t really tell you that!

We are all so unique in our chemical makeup, our diet, our daily activity level and our climate, so it’s really a very personal thing as to which one will work the best for you.

However, I do have a list of awesome natural deodorants for you. I have tried so many over the years and these are my favourites. I tend to switch it up and use different ones all the time. I also test them out on two smelly teens and the husband!

I prefer to support Aussie small businesses and ethical, passionate people who love what they do. So it’s no surprise that those amazing people’s products made it onto my list.

Top 3 Deodorant Pastes

♥ Erica Brooke Deodorant Cremes

Handmade in Brisbane by a natural new age mum, Erica Brooke deodorant cremes are simply luscious. The deodorants are beautifully soft to apply, like a smooth and creamy moisturiser.

Erica makes them with all natural, organic, ethical ingredients including shea butter, coconut oil and pure essential oils. The deodorant cremes also come in unscented, double-strength and bicarb-free versions so there is something to suit everyone! I love that they are packed in glass for a plastic-free, recyclable option.

Get Erica Brooke Natural Deodorant Paste here. Use the code: NNAMLOVE for 10% off everything storewide.

♥ The Physic Garden Deodorant Pastes

Charelle is a naturopath from Melbourne who creates natural deodorants and balms using medicinal & magical herbs. As well as being naturopathically formulated and handmade with love in small batches, the deodorants are completely natural and made with organic and sustainable ingredients.

Featuring soothing herbs and pure essential oils, there are three versions of the pastes. Relax Me has a soft floral scent, Revitalise Me is fresh and citrusy and Sensitive is scent-free and bicarb-free. I have been trialling all three of the deodorant pastes for a couple of weeks now and I am a huge fan. They work beautifully all day with one application and I do love a floral scent, so the Relax Me version is my absolute favourite.

Charelle has a real passion for the environment and sustainability and uses no plastic at all. The deodorants come in either glass jars or aluminium tins and they are palm oil-free, vegan and certified cruelty-free. So much to love about The Physic Garden!

Get The Physic Garden Natural Deodorant Paste here.

♥ Woohoo Deodorant Paste

Hand-made in Newcastle by the quirky couple from Happy Skincare, Woohoo is one of our family’s favourites.

There are three great options – Urban, Wild and Mellow and a new one coming soon! Aaron and Phoebe have just released the option of aluminium tins for all of their deodorants if you don’t want to get the recyclable plastic tubs. They all come with a small spatula for hygienic application.

Vegan, cruelty free, all natural and made with organic ingredients, the deodorants are great performers and are specially formulated to be pH friendly and gentle on skin. They are guaranteed to work and last around five months, so they are great value for money!

Get Woohoo Deodorant Paste here. Use the code: NNAM to get 10% off your first order and if you get two full sizes, you get FREE shipping.

Top 3 Roll-On Deodorants

Roll-ons have the benefit of being quick and easy to apply and being more ‘mainstream’ looking for those having trouble changing over the a natural option.

♥ Fresca Natural Deodorant

Fresca Natural deodorants have been around for over 6 years and are real industry leaders with stacks of rave reviews and awards. Elda Kingston, a Perth mum, still hand-makes all the deodorants herself even with over 200 stockists worldwide.

I love these deodorants for their hard-working staying power. Made with all natural, food-grade ingredients, Fresca Natural are cruelty free, vegan and contain no palm oil. They are fast and easy to use with a quick-drying, non-sticky feel.

My favourite is the Wild Lavender scent – it’s an absolutely gorgeous blend of lavender, patchouli and geranium essential oils. Elda makes seven varieties to choose from, including unscented and more ‘manly’ scents like Wooden Spice for the blokes.

Get Fresca Natural Deodorants here. Elda will give you FREE shipping when you get two or more products!

♥ A Bit Hippy Natural Cream Deodorant

A Bit Hippy is one of my favourite brands for affordable, hard-working beauty products. The deodorant is no exception! At under $8, it’s a great natural option that is bicarb-free, easy to use and effective at keeping the B.O at bay.

The A Bit Hippy deodorant cream has a very subtle, fresh unisex scent and is vegan, cruelty-free and made in Australia. A Bit Hippy offer a 100% customer satisfaction and money back guarantee if the deodorant doesn’t work for you. You can’t go wrong!

Get A Bit Hippy natural roll-on deodorant here.

♥ Wunder Arms

A new offering from 123 Nourish Me, Wunder Arms is a great little roll on. I love a pun, so it makes me smile whenever I use it! The scent is fresh, subtle and slightly floral but not too much so that blokes couldn’t use it.

It’s certified organic, contains low bi-carb and pure essential oils, Aussie bush flowers and bush fruit extracts. As usual, amazing Aussie mums Alisa and Danni only use the highest quality ingredients in their products and they are very particular, so you can be assured that you are getting only the best.

Get Wunder Arms Organic Deodorant here.

Want a Spray?

♥ Lhami Coconut and Lime Spray Deodorant

Some people just love a spray deodorant! Aussie mum, Natalie from beautiful Aussie skincare company, Lhami hand-makes this one.

It’s an aluminium & alcohol free natural spray deodorant with soothing chamomile & aloe vera. Pure oils of coconut, patchouli & lime all have effective deodorising properties and smell great.

Get Lhami Natural Spray Deodorant here.

Got Teenagers?

Obviously, teenagers can use any of the deodorants I have recommended. My daughter’s favourite is Erica Brooke and she is slightly obsessed and won’t use anything else.

Boys however can be a little bit harder to please, because there is the ‘cool factor’ to consider. That’s where 808 Dude comes in.

♥ 808 Dude

Aussie mum, Carolyn could not find a natural deodorant for her teenage son, so she made one! 808 Dude is an organic, all-natural, roll-on deodorant in a woody, uplifting scent.

I love the cool packaging and the affordable price. My teenage son gives this one the thumbs up for it’s staying power too.

Get 808 Dude natural roll on deodorant here.

Sensitive?

Some people react badly to sodium bicarbonate (bicarb) and/or essential oils in natural deodorants. If you are one of those people, try Woohoo Mellow or The Physic Garden Sensitive which contain no essential oils or bicarbonate of soda. Go back up the page to see the special offers for these.

Really Smelly?

If you do a lot of physical activity or exercise, my recommendations are the unisex Woohoo Wild and Erica Brooke’s Double Strength. Go back up the page to see the special offers for these.

Like to DIY?

Check out these DIY natural deodorant recipes and get all the ingredients and the containers you will need as well. You could have a deodorant making night with a few friends – what fun!

I told you this article was going to be epic! Thanks so much for reading this far. I know making the switch to natural deodorants isn’t always easy but give it a go. The health benefits of ditching those nasty toxins are really worth it.

Let me know if you have any questions or want to know more about natural deodorants.

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Honey, honey….. what’s the best honey?

June 7, 2018 · 6 Comments

Honey, honey….. what’s the best honey?

We were having a chat about honey in our Natural New Age Mum Facebook group the other day (email me to join!) and some of you weren’t aware of what honey is best to buy and which are best to avoid.

So, here I am today to share some information about honey with you!

Honey is a an original ‘superfood’. It can help with gut health, colds and flu, sore throats, wound healing and more. It’s high in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants and has natural anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.

What’s the best honey to buy?

Ideally, the best type of honey 100% raw, unfiltered, unpasteurised, local honey.

♥ Check that the honey you are buying is 100% honey. Unfortunately some of the honey you find in the supermarket can be mixed with plant sugars or high fructose corn syrup and even water! You are looking for 100% pure honey on the label, not just ‘pure honey’.

♥ Local honey can give relief to sufferers of seasonal allergies. Because the bees are collecting nectar from the local plants that are troubling you, ingesting the honey can work in a homeopathic way and help you build up a tolerance.

Some supermarket brands supplement their honey with imported honey which does not always have the same stringent quality controls that we have. According to Choice Australia, imported honey is no longer tested for added antibiotics.

Of course there are other benefits of buying local – supporting your local beekeeper and the local economy, reducing food miles and the chance to reduce packaging by taking your own containers. We want to keep Aussie beekeepers in business and not forced out of the market with cheap overseas imports.

♥ Honey that is ‘raw’ means that it hasn’t been heat-treated or pasteurised. Heating honey over 35-45º celsius (the natural temperature of a hive) compromises the beautiful assortment of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and probiotics that are naturally present in honey.

♥ Unfiltered honey means just that – it hasn’t been filtered. The filtering process can remove bee pollen from the honey. Bee pollen is a powerhouse of nutrients and something we want to keep and consume. Filtering is a different process to ‘straining’ where the large chunks of beeswax are strained out but the pollen remains.

Where do you find good honey?

You should be able to find raw, local honey at your local markets. You might be lucky enough to find a beekeeper selling honey directly so you can ask lots of questions about their processes.

Most local health food store or green grocers sell it too. Some places may even allow you to buy your honey in bulk or to use your own jar to refill, which is a great eco-friendly option.

According to Simon Mulvany from Save the Bees, the brands to avoid are: Capilano, Allowrie, Barnes, Wescobee and Macro (Woolworths house brand).

If you can’t get something local and want to buy one online, Kitsa at Emporio Organico recommends this brand.

What about organic?

Honey is one thing I don’t really worry too much about buying organic.

If you think about it, it’s pretty impossible to guarantee that honey is going to be organic anyway! As bees fly several kilometres from their hive, they could be collecting nectar from anywhere.

I am more concerned about making sure the beekeeper doesn’t use any toxic chemicals in their processes. An organic certification also costs a lot of money and small beekeepers may produce a mostly organic product but lack the financial resources to become certified.

What about baking?

If you use raw honey as a sweetener in baking, it does lose it’s goodness.

I still use raw honey in recipes occasionally when I want that honey flavour. That’s mostly because I still want to buy honey locally and support my local bee keeper and I don’t want to use imported or weird adulterated honey!

Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey in your cakes and biscuits and tolerates heating.

What about Manuka honey?

Manuka honey is amazing and very useful for many ailments due to it’s antibiotic properties. It is more a medicinal product rather than something you slather on your toast with gay abandon though! The price reflects this, so look at it is a healing remedy and use sparingly as needed.

The higher the MGO level or UMF level, the higher the bioactivity level. Check out Berringa Australia Super Manuka.

Why does it crystallise?

Over time you might find that your honey will crystallise, solidify and turn opaque. This just means that the enzymes are still active and you have a good honey!

Pop your jar in some warm water and it will liquefy again for ease of use.

Try my home-made Honey Cough Syrup!

I would love to know what honey you use – give your local beekeeper a shout out in the comments.

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.” ~ Winnie The Pooh

Resources and further reading:

Save the Bees Australia

Honey Lady

How to have an aromatherapy bath, safely!

April 17, 2018 · 2 Comments

How to have an aromatherapy bath, safely!

Did you know that it’s very easy to burn yourself with essential oils in the bath?

I know because I did it!

And it was very, very painful.

Last year, I had a bad flu and in my haziness, thought a nice aromatherapy bath would help. I must have been really out of it because I got badly burned. I think I used too many drops of essential oils and I didn’t mix it really thoroughly with the magnesium flakes like I normally do.

After a few minutes in the bath, I had a terrible burning pain up and down the back of my body. It took quite a few hours, a tub of coconut oil and cold towels draped all over me for the pain to go away. It was excruciating and I was in a lot of distress.

Since then, I found out that the method I was using (mixing into magnesium flakes) wasn’t even recommended as a safe option !! I am so, so careful now about how I take an aromatherapy bath.

Baths are a great way to get the benefits of essential oils. As well as absorbing the oils into your skin, you are also inhaling the beautiful vapours of the oils while relaxing and taking time out. I try to have a magnesium aromatherapy bath at least once a week to keep my stress levels in check.

Here’s the safety issue with essential oils and baths : “Essential oils are not water soluble, and so pouring them directly into a bath will result in a film of undiluted essential oils sitting on top, waiting patiently for your tender flesh to enter the water.” Robert Tisserand

So, to use essential oils safely in a bath, they need to be diluted and dispersed. We don’t want them neat on our skin in a hot bath as the hot water can make the skin even more hypersensitive to the oils.

After reading up on this topic so as not to burn myself again, I came across a few different things that you can use to dilute and disperse the oils in the bath. I think that the easiest way is to use a foaming product like shampoo, liquid soap or castile soap. You add 5-10 drops of essential oils to 1 tablespoon of foaming product and mix well really well. I do this in a small bowl I keep in the bathroom. I always use this castile soap because it has no weird ingredients and it’s unscented so I can add my own blend of oils for the results I want.

You can use a carrier oil like fractioned coconut oil or vegetable oil instead of a foaming product if you thoroughly mix the essential oils in with it. However, this method just dilutes the essential oils to a safe, non-burny level when in contact with your skin. They do not disperse the oil through the water like a foaming product does and they will still sit on top of the water.

It’s recommended not to use water soluble bases like milk, epsom salts, bicarbonate of soda, witch hazel, glycerine or aloe vera. These products are not considered safe because they simply dissolve in your bath water and leave the essential oils undiluted and at risk of coming into direct contact with your skin.

So, you still want a magnesium bath with oils? Simple. Just make sure you mix your essential oils with your foaming product really well. Then add to your bath with the magnesium flakes.

In my research into aromatherapy bath safety, I came across another point of view from The School of Aromatic Studies. I think she does make some good points but as with everything, I always err on the side of caution and considering my terrible burn experience with the oils, I am going with Robert Tisserand on this one. Also remember that children are extra sensitive, so take extra care.

Here are some gorgeous essential oil blends that are great for aromatherapy baths:

For Sleep: Slumber, Siesta or Sleepyhead

For Sickness: Immune Boost or Wellness Warrior

For Relaxing: Serenity or Calm

For Reviving: Upbeat or Energy and Vitality

For Lovers: Romance and Intimacy

I also use magnesium chloride flakes in my baths for relaxation and detoxing.

Do you take aromatherapy baths?

‘There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.’ Sylvia Plath

Sources: Robert Tisserand, Tisserand Institute.

Kids’ Vitamins – what’s really in them?

March 15, 2018 · 1 Comment

Kids’ Vitamins – what’s really in them?

You may have noticed an explosion of kids’ vitamin products on the market lately.

We all just want what’s best for our kids. We want them to be happy, healthy and full of energy. We want them to have all the nutrients their growing bodies and minds need.

Companies can see that we have that desire to make sure our kids are healthy and they make products that supply that need. But are they all they are cracked up to be?

Well, not necessarily! I have seen quite a few kids’ vitamin products recently that are very expensive and contain some really questionable ingredients.

The clever marketing spiel seem to be working and parents are buying these products thinking that they are doing the right thing by their children.

I’m not a medical professional, so I got my friend, who also happens to be my amazing nutritionist -Anita Rossiter to work with me on this article to give you a bit of basic information to help you make the best choices.

Do kids even need supplements?

Well, there is much debate around this topic. While most people can get all their nutrients from food, sometimes a little bit of extra help is needed.

Soil depletion, farming techniques, long-term storage, processing and a whole host of other factors mean that our food just isn’t as nutritious as it used to be.

Added to that, a lot of kids are not even eating enough good quality, nutrient-dense whole foods – for whatever reason. Processed foods are now very common in our kids’ diets too. Anita says that if kids are fussy, it’s worth seeking advice to ensure a nutritional deficiency isn’t underlying the fussiness.

There also seems to be an increase in issues like gut health which mean our bodies are not absorbing the nutrients as well as we could be.

I have always added in a few food-based supplements every now and again when the kids looked like they were getting sick or they were extra busy and getting a bit run down. I guess I look at it as ‘extra insurance’!

If you have any concerns about specific deficiencies or suspect a health problem, you need to get tested by a medical professional and supplemented correctly.

Naturopath Georgia Harding has some information about this here.

What to look out for?

When considering supplements, the first thing to do is get a full ingredient list. A lot of products will just display their ‘active ingredients’ but this is not a complete list. The rubbish often hides in the ‘inactive ingredients’.

Then you need to assess whether those ingredients are synthetic or natural. Food Matters have a great article on how you can tell the difference between natural vitamins and synthetic vitamins.

Check for sugars. They seem to be very prevalent in these products and will often be under another name like ‘tapioca syrup’. Some products are now claiming to be ‘sugar-free’ and substitute the sugar for things like xylitol and sorbitol. Unfortunately those components are highly processed and can cause digestive issues. In fact, I often see on the labels ‘this product may have a laxative effect’!

Check for artificial additives. Many use emulsifiers, flavourings, colourings and preservatives and even MSG. “Natural flavours” are not necessarily natural at all!

Get all the facts, do your research and then make a decision. Don’t be swayed by marketing claims!

Anita also says that many supplements are making a health situation worse as they can contain ingredients that are known to worsen gut health such as the additives, emulsifiers and sugars.

What to use?

The first thing to do is to try to improve your child’s diet by increasing nutrient-dense, good quality foods including fruit and vegetables. Anita says ‘you can’t supplement your way out of a bad diet!’

If you think your kids have a specific health issue, consult a medical professional and get some thorough testing. I find integrative doctors, nutritionists or naturopaths are more likely to be better informed about up to date nutrition information and are able to recommend good quality supplements.

If you just want to your kids to take a broad spectrum multi vitamin and mineral as a back-up, look for those that are just whole food (preferably certified organic) without sugar, synthetics and artificial additives.

We like Nutra Organics and Superfoods for Kidz. Anita also has her recommended supplements on her website here.

Do your kids take vitamins? What are your experiences?

How to make your own nit spray to prevent head lice

January 18, 2018 · 10 Comments

How to make your own nit spray to prevent head lice

I have been meaning to share with you our simple nit prevention spray for so long. I figured that back to school would be a perfect time to get it up on the website so it can be useful to you!

Luckily we have only had lice a few times over the years, but I know friends that have recurring issues trying to control the nits.

How to get rid of the lice once you have them is a whole other post I will do for you another day. Today, this is our preventative Nit Spray that we use to avoid them attaching onto the hair. I have to say it works pretty well because once we started using it, we didn’t get any more nits.

Spray a bit of the Nit Spray on to the hair every morning and then if your kids have long hair, wear it up in a bun or plait so the hair is contained.

There are loads of variations on this, but I choose these two essential oils as my preference because they are safe for kids of all ages.

You can make the Nit Spray in a larger spray bottle, just increase the measurements to suit. We repurpose old spray bottles from around the house. But do label it clearly and keep out of reach of small kids, so nobody accidentally ingests it!

NNAM Nit Spray

125ml water

40ml or around 2 tablespoons of natural conditioner

10 drops tea tree oil

10 drops lavender oil

Pop everything into your spray bottle and shake vigourously. Spray onto the hair and comb through.

I give it a shake every time before using as well. You can use it on wet or dry hair and it doesn’t need to be washed first.

Depending on what conditioner you use, you might need to play around with quantities to get the right consistency.

Hot tips: you don’t need to buy expensive oils for this – Eco. Aroma are a great, affordable Aussie brand and are 100% pure. I always use natural conditioner for the spray because it is is left in the hair and you don’t want any nasty toxins on the kids.

So know you know how to make your own nit spray to prevent head lice!! Give it a try and let me know how it goes.

A natural first aid kit from Weleda

January 4, 2018 · 4 Comments

A natural first aid kit from Weleda

I know many of you are huge fans of natural skincare brand, Weleda.

To be honest, I knew about Weleda but hadn’t really tried any of the products apart from a small sample of Skin Food I got from an event and the perfumes (lush by the way). I guess it’s because I try to choose Aussie brands first where possible.

However when Weleda asked me to try some of their products, I was pretty keen to see what all the fuss was about. Delving deeper and learning more about the company and using the products for a few months…. well yes, I can understand the addiction! The products are really, really lovely and they work.

I guess when you have been in the business since 1921, you know a thing or two about making a good quality natural product!

About Weleda

One thing I didn’t know was that Weleda’s founder is humanitarian and philosopher, Dr Rudolf Steiner (yep, the same guy as the Steiner schools!)

Based on anthroposophy which views the human body, mind and spirit holistically, Weleda uses natural ingredients that are targeted to support to your body’s own natural processes, encouraging internal balance and enhancing your body’s ability to nurture and heal.

Weleda ticks a lot of boxes for me – all natural ingredients, fair trade, no animal testing, recyclable packaging, sustainable practices. More than 82% of the plant-based raw materials come from certified organic or biodynamic farming, or from a controlled wild collection so the quality really is there.

Weleda is a large, international company but still manages to retain a personal touch with great customer service and a commitment to doing the right thing, which makes them a leader in the field. I think more companies could be inspired by their ethical, social and environmental initiatives.

One advantage of being an international company and having a huge popularity in the market place is that they can keep the products affordable for us.

A Natural First Aid Kit

One thing that really appealed to me in the range was their first aid products. Many of you want to know what to replace the old-fashioned, often-toxic first aid remedies with.

Weleda has made it super simple and have us covered with basic first aid remedies. Utilising the power of herbs, plants, essential oils and homeopathy, they have some brilliant products that will soothe and heal.

Unless you are a professional, working out what remedies you need for what ailment and then calculating doses and applications can be really overwhelming. Weleda uses herbs and particularly essential oils in concentrations that are safe for everyone in the family, while still being effective.

These are some great Weleda products to have in your first aid kit.

♥ Arnica Cream

Arnica works brilliantly on bumps, bruises, strains and sprains. With beautiful anti-inflammatory essential oils, this cream has a high concentration of arnica to work fast.

♥ Bites and Burns Cooling Gel

This gel is useful for pain relief and healing of minor burns, sunburn, insect and tick bites, stings and rashes. Featuring cooling aloe vera and echinacea, you can also use this on eczema.

♥ Hypercal Healing Cream

This cream uses the herbs hypericum and calendula for wounds, cuts and abrasions. After washing, apply the cream and dressing if needed. It will provide pain relief, relieve inflammation and help the wound heal fast.

♥ Rash Relief Cream

The Rash Relief cream has 32 active ingredients to treat skin rashes. It will soothe, protect and heal delicate skin, including babies’ nappy rash and fungal infections.

♥ Skin Food

Weleda’s famous Skin Food is also great for the first aid kit. It is deeply moisturising and soothing for any rough, dry skin on the body. Try it on chapped lips, dry skin or cracked heels.

Where do you get it?

Weleda products are widely available in health food stores, some pharmacies and online. Check out their store locator to find a stockist near you.

You can also order direct from the Weleda website (hot tip, sign up to their newsletter to stay in the loop with sales).

Exclusive Offer

The lovely people at Weleda are kindly giving us all a 15% discount to use at their online store www.weleda.com.au

Use the code: NATMUM until the 22nd of January, 2018.

This dealio is for everything storewide except gift packs, gift vouchers, Bee B&B Hotel and promotional items.

You get free shipping when you spend over $90, so stock up or go in with a friend!

Have you tried anything in the Weleda range? What are your thoughts?

(this post is sponsored)

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for your kids

November 5, 2017 · 10 Comments

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for your kids

Play is a fundamental childhood experience.

As well as being an important part of our children’s development, it’s also fun and many of us have fond memories of childhood toys.

Toys are something our kids will come into contact with nearly every day and they love exploring them with their mouths! So, it’s incredibly important to make sure toys you provide them with are safe and non-toxic.

“The World Health Organisation has emphasised that infants and young children are more vulnerable to gene-damaging chemicals than adults” Dr Peter Dingle

What to avoid when choosing toys

There can be many toxins in cheap toys including things like PVC, BPA, BPS, phalates, polyethylene terephthalate, fire retardants and heavy metals. They can be ingested, inhaled or transferred through the skin. These toxins are linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, endocrine disruption, developmental delays, and reproductive system damage. Scary stuff!

As well as being toxic, cheaper toys tend to be very poor quality and can break easily. Be wary of anything that has small pieces that can break off and become a choking hazard. Anything smaller than a ping pong ball can get trapped in airways.

Cheap toys are not designed for longevity. It’s a vicious cycle of consumerism where plastic toys are bought cheaply, broken and then discarded to landfill. Every bit of plastic ever made is still in existence.

There are also issue of fair-trade and ethical practices to consider. Denying a worker in a third world country a decent wage and safe working conditions so kids can have all the latest toys for Christmas is pretty messed up, no matter which way you look at it.

Wishbone 3 in 1 Bike

What to look for when choosing safe toys

♥ Choose a reputable store where you know the owners are eco-conscious and ethical.

♥ Choose natural and untreated materials such as wood, bamboo, metal and natural fibres like cotton, wool or felt. These materials are also an environmentally friendly option.

♥ Check that soft toys are not stuffed with toxic fillers. Natural fillers like bamboo or GMO free corn starch are preferable.

♥ Check that the paints, dyes and treatments used are natural and non-toxic.

♥ Check that wooden toys are not made from MDF or plywood or use toxic glues.

♥ Look beyond the labelling. Just because something says it’s non-toxic or wooden doesn’t mean it’s safe.

♥ When choosing plastic toys, look for recycled plastic that is food grade safe and free of toxins. Some good brands are Green Toys and Miniland for dolls.

♥ Personally, I also look at who makes the toys and where they are from. Is the company ethical and are they looking after their workers? It’s just good karma!

Some of my top picks:

♥ Hevea

Hevea make rubber toys that don’t contain holes so there is no chance of mould build up. The safe rubber ducky! See more here.

♥ EverEarth

EverEarth make beautiful wooden toys from sustainable wood and water based non-toxic paints. Find the whole range here.

♥ Maud n Lil

I am so in love with Maud n Lil soft toys. You will see them featured often on Natural New Age Mum. They are beautiful quality and certified organic with corn starch filling and no small buttons. Find them here.

What about family and friends?

I hear you. A new child in the family gets everyone excited and they want to buy all the baby things!

I find it’s best to nip this in the bud early and explain your stance on toxins, plastics and cheap toys. You might instigate a ‘books only please’ policy or something else that works for your family.

If you need some help navigating those conversations, have a read of my article, What to do when your family and friends don’t support your lifestyle choices.

Kinderboard

Good quality, eco-friendly toys should last a lifetime and may even become family heirlooms. You will be able to pass them on to siblings, other families or sell them when you are finished.

It’s also worth remembering that kids (and babies in particular) don’t need a lot of toys for stimulation – that’s what we are here for! There is something to be said for providing less to encourage more imaginative play. Simple toys without all the bells and whistles (or flashing lights and sounds!) are often best.

Choosing quality over quantity is a safe bet for your kids and the environment. Good quality, ethical toys do cost more than cheap plastic junk from the discount stores but I think our kids are worth it.

What do you think? Do you actively search for safe, non-toxic toys?

Further Reading and sources:

Slow Death by Rubber Duck

Healthy Home, Healthy Family

Is your home making you sick?

How to treat dandruff, naturally

October 3, 2017 · 7 Comments

How to treat dandruff, naturally

Dandruff, like halitosis is one of those social awkward things that we all want to get rid off as soon as we can!! Regular dandruff shampoos sold at pharmacies can contain some pretty nasty toxins, but this condition is actually very easy to treat naturally.

What is dandruff?

Aussie naturopath Mim Beim says in her Natural Remedies book, “dandruff is a fungal condition where the skin of the scalp sheds white scales.”

It can be caused by overused of hair products, hormonal imbalance, stress, a diet low in fatty acids, poor circulation and/or genetics.

How do you treat it?

This is the method we have always used for dandruff or itchy scalp – it works so well and it’s good to see that it’s recommended by Mim Beim as well.

Mix around 2 tablespoons of warmed coconut oil with 5 drops of tea tree oil. Apply to hair, massaging it well right into the scalp. Leave for at least an hour (or overnight if you can) and then shampoo out thoroughly. You may need to shampoo twice with hot water to get all the coconut oil out.

You may need to repeat this a few times over a few weeks if the condition is really bad. Coconut oil and tea tree oil both have powerful anti-fungal properties. We always make sure we have both in the house as part of our natural first aid kit!

What else can you do?

As well as treating the fungal infection with the coconut oil and tea tree, Mim also suggests drinking more water, cutting back on sugar and yeast (severe issues may involve a candida diet – see your health practitioner) and increasing good fats and oils.

You should also avoid chemicals and hair products that irritate the scalp. If you want to follow up with a natural shampoo and conditioner specifically for dandruff, try Aussie brand, Daily Naturals.

Have you tried this natural remedy? Would you give it a go?

Check out Mim’s book here >>