Nobody wants to be the person who looks like they just seasoned their shoulders with salt after a good old head scratch. You can’t ignore those embarrassing dandruff flakes, which go flying with every itch or scratch of the scalp. Dandruff is a medical issue that you need to address, otherwise you’ll always see those dry flakes on your shoulders. 

What Is Dandruff?

Roughly 50% of adults worldwide have dandruff, which is a scalp condition caused by malassezia, a fungus that feeds on sebum and dead skin cells. Malassezia is actually a normal part of the scalp, but it becomes an issue when it feeds on sebum. It breaks down the sebum into fatty acids that can irritate the scalp, which causes the itchiness. People have varying sensitivities to fatty acids on the scalp, and this determines the severity of dandruff. 

While there is no magical cure to banish dandruff from your life, there are easy home remedies that can help you control it. To avoid those unsightly flakes on your dark black T-shirt, use the following home remedies to nourish the scalp and keep dandruff at bay.

Raw Honey

The proteins, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids in raw honey can do wonders for the skin and hair. In fact, some of the earliest civilizations used honey for its medicinal properties. The antimicrobial, emollient, humectant, and soothing properties help to nourish the scalp and condition the hair. When you apply it on the scalp, it can fight pathogens that cause dandruff. Mix one or two tablespoons of raw honey with two-thirds cup of warm water. Once you have dissolved the honey in the water, rinse the hair with this mixture and massage the scalp. Rinse with warm water to wash out. 

Garlic

It’s impossible to ignore the medicinal properties of garlic. When it comes to dandruff, the anti-fungal properties are the ones that matter. Mince two cloves of raw garlic and mix it with a little water. Massage this mixture on your scalp and then rinse with warm water. You’ll definitely smell like garlic, so be prepared for that, but you’ll also experience reduced itchiness and flakiness. 

Baking Soda

Skip your regular shampoo routine for a little while and focus on massaging the scalp with baking soda instead. The baking soda gently exfoliates the scalp, which helps avoid the build-up of flakes or sebum. Additionally, the anti-fungal properties help to soothe the scalp and reduce and itching or redness. After massaging baking soda into the scalp, rinse it with warm water and dry with a towel. You can use this method for a couple weeks to prevent flaking. When you see improvement, you can return to your regular shampoo routine. 

Probiotics

You don’t need to plop a pile of kimchi on your head, but it is beneficial to add more fermented foods to your diet if you want a healthier scalp. A Hungarian study found that daily probiotic consumption decreased dandruff symptoms by 57%. Over time, the subjects who consumed probiotics experienced a reduction in malassezia, the yeast that feeds on sebum and causes itchiness. In addition to boosting the immune system and improving digestion, probiotic strains help to reduce greasiness and itchiness on the scalp. You consume fermented vegetables, kefir, natto, miso, kombucha, or sauerkraut to get a healthy dose of probiotics. 

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil gained popularity in the health world because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Many studies confirmed that tea tree oil has the ability to fight both fungal and bacterial infections, making it an excellent dandruff remedy. One study found that tea tree oil was effective against all dandruff-causing malassezia species. A 0.25% dilution of tea tree oil inhibited the growth of this fungus. Mix 6 drops of tea tree oil in a carrier oil (like coconut oil), and apply the mixture to your scalp daily until symptoms subside. 

Neem

Neem extract is a common ingredient in many skin medications because it has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Because dandruff is mostly caused by the malassezia fungus, neem may be an excellent choice to put an end to the flakiness. You have to be careful with neem because it is very powerful. Health experts advise that people use a diluted version of neem. To  do this, simply boil a neem leaves in a pot of water. You can rinse with this neem water to avoid further skin irritation. 

SHARE:

The post Easy Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Dandruff appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Skin conditions are uncomfortable for numerous reasons. They can make you self-conscious about your appearance and they can be irritating or seemingly uncontrollable. Both eczema and psoriasis are two common skin conditions that result in flaky, itchy, inflamed skin. Constant itching can make you feel embarrassed and leave you feeling helpless. That’s where this homemade neem balm comes into play.

What Is Neem Oil?

People in the natural beauty world rave about the benefits of neem oil. Neem oil is derived from the neem tree, which his native to India, and the oil contains powerful antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Commonly used in Ayurvedic remedies, neem oil is now used in cosmetic products, including body lotions, hair products, and skin creams.

Helps Prevent Acne

Ayurveda used neem oil to help clear up the skin because of the inherent antibacterial properties. If your acne is caused by bacterial build-up, neem oil can help by killing the bacteria that clog pores and create blemishes. A 2013 in vitro study found that neem oil could be a prolonged treatment for acne. Neem oil also works to moisturize the skin, so it prevents dead skin flakes from clogging the pores.

It May Reduce Signs Of Aging

Neem oil contains powerful antioxidants and fatty acids, which help slow the early signs of aging. Oleic and linoleic acid, both of which are present in neem oil, help to penetrate the skin and encourage cell health. This helps to keep the skin looking young and supple. When applied to the skin, neem oil helps create a moisturizing barrier that prevents skin from losing moisture, which helps prevent wrinkles and dryness.

It Soothes Itching And Irritation

Unfortunately, neem oil is not a cure for eczema or psoriasis, but it can help manage symptoms and the severity of outbreaks. Dermatologists typically recommend emollients for eczema because they fill gaps or cracks in the skin, preventing loss of moisture. Neem is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, which penetrate the outer layers of the skin, filling in those gaps and cracks. The antiseptic properties also help keep bacteria out, reducing irritation or severity of outbreaks.

Note: Before using this all over your skin (especially around the face or scalp), do a patch test on your arm. If you don’t see a reaction after 24 hours, which includes redness or swelling, you should be safe to use it on other areas of the body. Neem is incredibly potent so use lightly.

DIY Neem Balm For Eczema

Ingredients:

• 40 grams Shea butter
• 30 grams cocoa butter
• 20 grams castor oil
• 30 grams sweet almond oil
• 10 grams neem oil
• ¼ teaspoon vitamin E oil

Instructions:

• Add the Shea butter, cocoa butter, castor oil, and sweet almond oil to the top of a double boiler. Alternatively, you can combine them in a heat-safe glass bowl/jar that sits in a saucepan with an inch of water over medium-low heat.
• Once the oils melt, stir well and remove from heat. Pour the oils into a heat-safe bowl/jar and place it in the freezer for five minutes, or until oils thicken.
• Remove the bowl from the freezer and whisk in the neem oil and vitamin E oil.
• Spoon the mixture into a container with a lid and let it settle for a couple hours before using it. Use once or twice a day on the affected area(s), but don’t forget to patch test first.

SHARE:

The post Homemade Eczema Balm With DIY Instructions appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

The chaos that is holiday life has begun for a lot of people. Family get-togethers, end-of year projects, traveling, shopping, and more seem to pile up and eat away at your being, often times resulting in high stress levels, unhealthy eating habits, and even sickness. The fear of not completing holiday shopping can push you to your limits, and we definitely don’t want that.

How about we take a little time away from crowded malls this year and make homemade beauty products that serve as the perfect gifts? Not only are DIY beauty products cost effective and easy to make, but they are also comprised of natural ingredients that offer unique health benefits. There’s no need to empty your bank account by purchasing luxury hair care products and fancy lotions when you can whip up your own health and beauty products. Besides the fact that the recipes in this article contain natural ingredients, they are going to be made by you, and making gifts from scratch is a lost art in this day and age. The extra love that goes into homemade gifts can put an even bigger smile on the faces of your loved ones. If you make any of the following recipes, take a picture and tag us on social media: @dherbs for Twitter and Instagram, and @dherbsfamily for Facebook.

DIY Lavender Body Butter

Don’t let the dry winter months dictate the health or appearance of your skin. Keep your skin hydrated by using this lavender body butter. Containing neem oil, which has been referred to as “the village pharmacy,” this body butter helps to reduce redness, swelling, and contributes to overall smoother skin.

Click here to make the body butter.

DIY Lemon Sugar Scrub

Working to exfoliate the skin and replenish drier areas with nourishing essential oils, this lemon sugar scrub is the perfect gift for winter. The lemon juice and essential oils kill harmful bacteria and encourage healthy skin cell production.

Click here to make the sugar scrub.

DIY Beard Oil

There are myriad beard care products on the market, but many of them are filled with unnecessary chemicals that are not conducive to beard health. If you have some bearded friends or family, this beard oil is great for moisturizing the skin, strengthening the beard (sounds fake but this is real), and maintaining shine.

Click here to make the beard oil.

DIY Body Wash

Address the needs of the skin by washing it with a simple body wash that works to moisturize, cleanse, and nourish. This recipe contains raw honey, which contains antimicrobial properties that penetrate the pores to keep them clean.

Click here to make the body wash.

DIY Soothing Skin Salve

People with dry, chapped, cracked, or sensitive skin are going to love this soothing skin salve. Containing antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial properties, this salve works to moisturize damaged skin, soothe redness, and protect healthy skin cells.

Click here to make the salve.

DIY Peppermint Shower Bombs

Shower bombs produce pungent aromas, turning ordinary showers into luxury, aromatic steam rooms. These shower bombs contain peppermint essential oil, which works to improve circulation, unclog sinuses, and relax sore muscles.

Click here to make the shower bombs.

DIY Turmeric Face Mask

While turmeric is beneficial for cognitive function and reducing inflammation in the body, it can also cleanse the skin and help to reduce acne. Refresh the skin, clear up blemishes, and fight bacteria by using this face mask.

Click here to make the face mask.

SHARE:

The post 7 DIY Beauty Products You Can Make For Gifts appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

There’s nothing like being outside on a summer evening. Maybe you are sitting by a lake with some friends, having a romantic picnic in a park, or watching the sunset in your backyard. Everything is going swimmingly, until you start smacking yourself because mosquitos have found you out. They are on the hunt and you are an easy target. These little pests can carry harmful diseases, so it is wise to protect yourself when you can. That’s why you want to have a great mosquito repellent on hand.

The thing about most mosquito repellents is that they are replete with chemicals, the worst of which is DEET. Sure, it keeps the mosquitos off you, but at what cost? Rather than poisoning your skin, you can go the all-natural route and make your own chemical-free repellent. If you are wondering how this natural repellent works, the mosquito-repelling properties can be attributed to the two primary ingredients below.

Citronella Essential Oil

One of the most common uses of this essential oil is to keep insects away. It is particularly effective against mosquitos, but can also repel lice and fleas. Additionally, the antiseptic properties in citronella essential oil help to eliminate infections, while the anti-inflammatory properties have a sedative effect on inflammation. You can also use it in small doses to make natural deodorants.

Neem Oil

Neem oil is a safe and excellent mosquito repellent. According to the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, when 2% neem oil was mixed with coconut oil and applied to the exposed skin of volunteers, it completely protected them from mosquito bites for twelve hours.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons neem oil
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
• 10-15 drops citronella essential oil

Instructions

• Mix all of the ingredients together in a small glass jar that has an eyedropper top.
• Make sure to use it sparingly. A little goes a long way. Rub a few drops on the exposed skin.

Note: If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, do not use neem oil because it is an abortifacient.

SHARE:

The post DIY Mosquito Repellent That Actually Works appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

The weather is the only thing that should be dry during the winter months. You don’t have to let the cold dictate the appearance or health of your skin. How do you keep you skin hydrated, though? There are simple natural ingredients, like neem oil, which have been used to promote healthy skin in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for many years.

What is Neem Oil?

Referred to as “the village pharmacy” in India, the neem tree grows in tropical climates and produces fruits and seeds, from which neem oil is created. The flowers have been used to treat bile disorders and the leaves have been able to prevent ulcers. Even the bark was used to benefit the central nervous system! Neem oil has a potent smell and it has been used to remedy a variety of skin conditions, from regular dry skin to eczema and psoriasis.

The wonderful thing about the body butter in this article is that it contains the tag-team duo of neem oil and lavender essential oil. Both of these oils have anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain killing) properties. Lavender oil, when used topically, has been known to reduce redness, swelling, and promote the healing of burns and cuts. The combination of lavender and neem oil may be exactly what you need to get through the dry winter. Plus, the rest of the ingredients are pretty amazing!

Ingredients:

• .05 oz. cocoa butter
• 6 oz. shea butter
• .6 oz. arnica oil
• .4 oz. neem oil
• 18 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops tea tree oil
• 1 ml vitamin E oil

Instructions:

• In a double boiler over medium heat, melt the cocoa and shea butters, stirring them occasionally. Once they are melted, add the arnica and neem oils.
• Remove from the heat and add the lavender essential oil, tea tree oil, and vitamin E oil.
• Pour the mixture into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the mixture the next day and, using a hand mixer, whip the mixture until it looks like soft body butter. Store this in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dry place. Use twice a day on dry skin.

SHARE:

The post DIY Lavender Body Butter appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Sometimes fleas attack your pets and you have to resort to some pretty potent chemicals that are not good for them. The fleas go away, but at what cost? The chemicals hurt your pet’s skin, even if you don’t think that they do. You don’t have to use these chemicals because you can make your own flea powder with natural ingredients.

The homemade flea powder is composed of several ingredients that work to naturally repel insects. Most of these ingredients are actually recommended by holistic vets as killer flea treatments.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

This powder is comprised of fossilized remains of aquatic organisms (this includes coral) known as diatoms. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is very sharp, when inspected under a microscope, which helps to puncture insects and ultimately kill them. Food grade DE is harmless to humans and pets, but deathly to insects.

Yarrow Powder

This has famously been used to help heal wounds in herbal medicine because it has amazing anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe irritated skin. It also has antimicrobial properties, which help to remedy the flea bites or secondary infections that pets can get.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

This natural insect repellent has some pretty potent antiseptic properties, which help to accelerate the healing process after your pet is bitten by insects.

Neem Powder

This classic, Ayurvedic medicinal herb has been used as an insect repellent for centuries. It can help ward off ticks, lice, mites, mosquitos, and fleas. There are compounds in neem that kill larvae, if insects breed on your pet’s skin. It also has moisturizing properties that help to keep your pet’s skin from becoming too dry.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup food grade Diatomaceous Earth
• ½ cup neem powder
• ½ cup yarrow powder
• 20 drops eucalyptus essential oil (omit this if you are using on cats)

Instructions:

• Mix all of the ingredients in a mason jar and shake to combine. Put a shaker top on the jar when you are ready to apply it to your pet.
• Starting from the head, apply this powder on your pet’s back all the way to the tail. You should also rub it on the belly and legs. Cover as much area as possible.
• It can be beneficial to brush the fur in the opposite direction to allow the powder to penetrate the fur to the skin.
• Use this once a month, but reapply if you give your pet a bath. You may need to apply more frequently if there is a flea infestation.

SHARE:

The post Homemade Flea Powder To Keep Your Pet Healthy appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Various skin conditions can cause an itchy rash to appear, and Scabies is one of those conditions.  Scabies is a skin infestation that is the result of a burrowing mite called Sarcoptes scabiei.  The itching and rash will occur wherever the mite burrows in the skin.  Scabies is a contagious skin condition that can easily spread through close personal contact.  It is a fairly common condition that affects millions of people around the world every year.

Symptoms of Scabies

After a person is exposed to the Scabies mite, it can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to experience symptoms.  If the person has had Scabies before, it will take about 1-4 days for symptoms to arise.  The common symptom is a pimple-like rash that is itchy, especially at night.  The most common places that the rash occurs in kids are the head, face, neck, hands, and soles of the feet.  Adults can experience the rash on the wrist, elbow, armpit, nipples, penis, waist, buttocks, or between the fingers. Common symptoms include:

• Itchy, bumpy rash on the skin
• Sores (these will occur if the person keeps scratching the rash)
• Thin burrow tracks (which are made up of blisters on the skin)

What Causes Scabies?

The Scabies mite is microscopic and can’t be seen with the naked eye.  When the female mite burrows beneath the skin, she makes a tunnel in which she lays her eggs.  After the eggs hatch they head to the skin’s surface, where they mature, multiply, and spread to other areas of the body or other hosts via close physical contact.  Common causes include:

• Physical contact with an infected person
• Sharing clothes or bedding with an infected person
• Weakened immune system
• Sexual intercourse
• Daycare centers or schools (because many germs and viruses get passed around in these places)

Natural Remedies

• Because intense itching is a common symptom for people with Scabies, a cold soak can provide relief and stop you from itching, which can spread the virus.  If itching is uncontrollable, try placing an ice pack on the affected area.  This will only provide temporary relief as the cold helps to numb the area.
• Neem oil has been known to kill Scabies mites, and it also prevents their ability to grow and continue populating.  It is a botanical pesticide that contains antibacterial and antifungal properties, which help to eradicate bacteria that is in the skin.  Massage neem oil to the affected area and wait a few minutes before taking a bath.  Continue doing this once a day for a couple weeks to prevent the infection from spreading.
• Cayenne pepper can help alleviate the pain associated with Scabies.  The active ingredient, capsaicin, helps reduce pain when applied to the skin.  You can mix 1 cup of cayenne pepper in a lukewarm bath and soak in it until the water gets cold.  Make sure not to get the water in your eyes as the pepper will cause your eyes to burn.  Do this once a day until Scabies is gone.
• Since turmeric has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it can help relieve the symptoms of Scabies. Take 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder and mix it with a few drops of fresh lemon juice to make a thick paste. Rub this paste on the affected area, leave it on for an hour, and then wash it off with lukewarm water.  Do this every day until you see improvement.
• Since coconut oil is an incredible moisturizer and has antimicrobial properties, it can help reduce the symptoms of Scabies if applied to the affected area(s).  For best results, mix a little coconut oil with a few drops of either tea tree oil, clove oil, neem oil, rosemary oil, or anise seed oil.  The combination of coconut oil and one of these oils can help prevent further infestation and aid in the elimination of the virus.
• Because aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, it is commonly used to reduce the symptoms of Scabies. Applying the aloe vera to the affected area(s) helps to restore your skin’s pH balance and relieve itching and irritation.  Like coconut oil, aloe vera also has moisturizing and antimicrobial properties.
• Onion can be a beneficial remedy because it contains quercetin, which can help soothe the skin.  The sulfur compounds, in combination with the quercetin, can help eradicate the Scabies mite and help prevent the infection from spreading.  Take an onion, blend it, and apply the juice to the affected area.  Leave this on for a couple hours.  Rinse every couple hours and continue to reapply the juice. Do this until symptoms subside.

SHARE:

The post Scabies and Lice appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.