Neal's Yard Remedies

Making my way around Covent Garden in London several years ago, I discovered a wonderful little shop which epitomizes all the things that I love about eco-business.

Neal's Yard Remedies grew out of a desire to offer all natural, organic, fair trade and green body care products. After perusing this idyllic shop, nestled in a leafy corner of the Garden, I took home a bevy of amazing products that I treasured until their last drop.

Over the years, I waxed poetic to my friends and family about the quaint little shop in London and its wonderful line of organic skin care, packaged in practical yet beautiful cobalt blue bottles. Whenever, I found myself in London, I would always make my way to Covent Garden to relish in remedies of Neal's Yard.

Most auspiciously, these fine products are now being made available stateside and I cannot rave enough about them. Check us out at us.nyrorganic.com/shop/Siaalexander

There is something for everyone, children, women and men. I love all the Rehydrating Rose Collection, and especially the Rose Facial Elixir. If you try only one of these luscious creams, try this one.

Or this one.

Equally outstanding is the Rejunvenating Frankincense Collection.

The Frankincense Hydrating Cream for mature skin has the most incredible aroma and such a silky feel.




The Baby Massage Oil is so wonderful for the little ones

And even the men can enjoy a facial grooming set formulated with green coffee beans and Dead Sea salts.

I tend to be sensitive to anything artificial and Neal's Yard Remedies have nothing questionable in their ingredient list and actually live up to being called remedies. The varying products do work and with enticing scents, all organic and pure, they are unmatched. Here is one of their older adverts and it says it all!

Leave a comment or email me about your experience with natural skincare and receive a free Neal's Yard sample gift pack!

The Salt Room

Imagine being surrounded by pure salt in a pristine cave lit by candlelight. In this healing sanctuary, your whole being is infused with the medicinal properties of salt. I visited The Salt Room in Winter Park, Fl a few weeks ago and it was amazing.

This was a feeling like no other and can only be compared to breathing in the pure air of the ocean on a very secluded beach. The salt is inhaled deeply into the lungs and absorbed through the skin.  The negative ions in the salt magnetize and purify toxins in the air and body. Many ailments are alleviated by the effects of the salt. For instance, asthma can be brought under control, chemical sensitivities lessened and even food allergies curbed. Basking in pure salt or Halotherapy is very healing and therapeutic. That's why a trip to the ocean to breathe in the salty air can not only boost your mood, but your complexion and immune system, as well. There are salt rooms all over the world and many have been around for ages. The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, aka, the palace of salt, is once such place.

Salt rooms are popular in Eastern Europe and there are also a chain of therapy centers in the UK called, The Salt Cave. The options range from rustic cave-like dwellings,

Quaint little rooms,

 Homey retreats,

To almost luxurious chill pads.

There are even rooms outfitted especially for children who suffer from eczema, bronchitis or allergies.

What they all have in common, however, is that they replicate the healing micro-climate of a natural salt cave, which gently soothes your respiratory system in a powerful and non-invasive way.

When I walked out of The Salt Room, my lungs felt light and clear and my skin glowed. I even had to shake some of the salt crystals off my clothes and a bit off my face. The salt was literally filling the room, purifying every inch of space and of me. I loved it!

Raw and Vegan

There are a plethora of raw and vegan friendly restaurants out there and I have been on a mission to discover them all. In Clearwater, Fl, there is a wonderful place called Green Organix. The food is outstanding and super fresh and healthy. Just a few steps from the beach, you can dine al fresco on delicious gourmet vegetarian and vegan food.

 

I ordered this unique organic salad made with sunflower seed tuna! The dressing was a lemon tahini and so so good.

The vegetables are extra fresh and I suspect it's because right next door you find the Bob and Daughter Market selling farm fresh produce.

The Oceanview community of the Tidewater area is home to the excellent Quenna's Raw and Vegan Cafe. The food here is like none other you've tasted. The chef Quenna hails from Kenya and infuses her raw cuisine with distinctly African flavors.

My favorite is her avocado supreme with sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, peppers and a spicy red chili sauce.

At home, I get inspired to create special dishes based on my raw and vegan restaurant experiences. Here is one with heirloom tomatoes, radishes and other goodies!

I mixed it up with some avocado and an olive oil, lime dressing.

Or this raw zucchini pad thai based on the one I like to order from Cafe 118. The peanut dressing is incredible and eating this dish is such a treat.

For dessert, I made a spirulina smoothie with grapes, bananas and pears.

The recipe for this smoothie is based on my most favorite bottled drink, Odwalla Superfood.

Speaking of drinks, I visited Homegrown Co-op in Orlando where you can get all manner of dried herbs and spices. I left with a bunch of herbs to make my own iced tea at home. Peppermint, Dandelion Leaf, White Willow Bark and Comfrey Root all went into my brew. This is a very good combination to cleanse the blood and soothe the digestive system. It is also delicious!

So refreshing and medicinal, too!

 

Several cups a day is a balm to my body and soul.

For an evening snack, I looovve this Raw One Grawnola. It's not cooked and all the nuts and grains are sprouted.

Two Moms in the Raw make an equally outstanding raw granola. Try this with raw almond milk and you will never eat cooked gluten cereal and cow's milk again!

Moving forward in the raw and vegan dessert category, I love to use the Glaser Farms Almond Butter to make milk shakes. Just add water, agave, vanilla and a few teaspoons of this butter and voila!

I must confess that I did not make this amazing chocolate cake and chocolate sauce, myself. I bought it from Cafe 118 in Winter Park, Fl. Yes, it is as tasty as it looks and once again, all raw and vegan!

Oh and here is the raw vanilla ice cream that came with it. Made from cashews, coconuts and other raw goodies.

Gaia Healing

                                                             artist Josephine Wall

Herbal remedies are age old and our ancestors thrived on them. For many ailments, we can return to these natural healers from mother Earth- experiencing a healing force subtle and harmonious, yet powerful and real. Gaia Herbs are a very potent line of medicinal elixirs which I have found to surpass the efficacy of many other brands. Inside each capsule, there is a liquid herbal solution. Unlike dried pills, the liquid is easily absorbed by our system and the medicinal properties made readily available within our body. The effect of Stress Response is palpable. I take it when I am driving a lot, because this activity tends to overwhelm me.

The Thyroid support is excellent for balancing the thyroid gland naturally whether it is over or under active.

And the Vision Formula is a great way to strengthen the eyes when you are embarking on a natural vision improvement path. The Bates method of improving one's vison, uses eye exercises and gradually reduced lense prescriptions to bring out the inherent visual strength of the eye and the brain.

I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting The Florida School of Holistic Living

And meeting with a master herbalist there. She was outstanding and introduced me further to the healing properties of medicinal herbs and of flower essences. Rescue Remedy is the most popular of the flower essences developed by Dr. Edward Bach, but there are many more of these amazing remedies. They are are a synergistic blend of the ethereal imprint that flowers make on the water solution in which they are immersed. When we take in these essences, we also take in the positive qualities of the flowers themselves! What a wonderful way to heal. Flowers are so magical and beautiful and the idea of sharing in their essential nature is profound. Look into your emotional, physical and spiritual challenges and then find a flower essence to support your healing in these areas. Here is a wonderful resource- http://fesflowers.com/pdf/Choosing_Flower_Essences.pdf

I was given this special blend of Star of Bethlehelm, mixed on the premises and so far the results have been astounding. I feel the lightness, freedom, joy and beauty of the myriad flowers, right here in my very own being.

After my sublime visit with the Florida School of Holistic Living, I decide to explore other eco businesses in this lovely Orlando community. Around the corner is the Shine On Yoga studio with all manner of classes.

And across the street, after an invigorating Yoga session, you can sample herbal teas blends of every sort from Dandelion Communitea Cafe.

 I love the beautiful door that leads you into this welcoming space full of vegan goodies and spectacular tea.

There are many bulk teas inside, as well, and you can take some home and make up your own blends. I bought this ceramic mortar and pestle from a korean market nearby, for this very purpose.

I love that there is a tiny little used bicycle shop in the back, where you can find good deals on refurbished bikes.

I found an excellent bicycle for my daughter, which we embellished with silver duct tape. My goal is to live a bike-mostly life, devoid of daily car trips.

And to the right of the bike shop there is an acupuncture practice. How perfect is that! Everything one needs for healthy living in one awesome community.

To top of a wonderful day, I was the witness of this exquisite rainbow on the way home.