Conversations Archives - Ziryabs Body Brew

Is the Benefits of Aromatherapy Fact or Fiction?

It depends on who you ask and how you measure the benefits of aromatherapy. In my mind, there is absolutely no doubt that smells have an emotional response to me. I know I am not alone. So, arguing about whether fragrance impacts emotions seems like a waste of time. Furthermore, since I believe your emotions impact your health in some way, it seems logical that it is a fact that there are benefits to aromatherapy. That said, I suspect that some people exaggerate the benefits beyond what science has shown so far because of wishful thinking, sincere belief, or financial

What to do if Exposed to Poison Ivy

What to do if I’ve just been exposed to plants in Poison Ivy Family First thing you want to do if you think you’ve been exposed to Poison Ivy, Poison Oak or Poison Sumac is to try to wash as much as possible. It is an invisible sap or resin that you are reacting to. Using the right soap for the job will help. Soap that is grease cutting is thought to be best. My pine tar soap will work great without drying but just use the strongest soap you’ve got on hand. Wash as soon as possible. Old fashioned

Soap and Cosmetic Best DIY Sites

Make It Yourself Links The generosity of some bloggers who share their knowledge on DIY sites really reminds me how good people can be, I came across yet another wonderful and helpful DIY website and want to take a moment to acknowledge a few of the to the bloggers who have shared their knowledge so generously with me while I was learning. I still often find myself seeking out the knowledge of my fellow makers. Susan Barclay’s SwiftCraftyMonkey – Point of Interest First, a huge thank you to the best cosmetic website that I know; Susan Barclay’s SwiftCraftyMonkey. The name

What to do About a Smelly Dog

Some dogs are smellier than others. Water dogs like retrievers produce special oil that helps makes their fur water-resistant. They also tend to grow nice thick coats to protect themselves from cold. Unfortunately it makes them tend to get smellier than other dogs. Avoid Bathing Your Smelly Dog Too often If you bathe your dog a lot, you may want to DECREASE the frequency. Sometimes, too many baths can dry out a dog’s skin which can cause dermatitis (and smelly fur). Over-cleaning can cause the dog’s skin to compensate for dryness by producing even more oils. Worse, dogs can be

What to Do When You Experience Allergic Reactions

We can all experience Allergic Reactions to ingredients even when they are natural. These reactions can be real allergies or sensitivities. You can be born with them, they can develop over time and sometimes they can disappear. Often people believe that they experiencing an allergic reaction when trying a baking soda based deodorant. This isn’t accurate. Track Possible Allergens If you experience a reaction to any product made by me or anyone else, I strongly recommend writing down the ingredient list. Often it only takes a few ingredient lists to narrow down the possible culprit. Taking a picture of the

Doing Our Best to Protect the Earth

Ziryab’s only uses organic sustainable palm oil and palm kernel oil. I believe in supporting the existing sustainable and organic palm industry. Switching to another tropical vegetable oil can simply move the problem to another area of the world. At this time, no North American oil can compete for quality, application or low environmental impact. And environmentalists have so well brought focus to the palm oil industry that the organic and sustainable certification has become well supervised. This is making the industry more environmentally competitive and trustworthy. Palm Oil is found in soap so often because it makes a wonderful

Black Lives Matter

I have witnessed how black lives are undervalued in our society to the point where a black person is more likely to die earlier than I am. I believe: North America owes a debt to the ancestors of the Africans kidnapped and enslaved. That Black Americans and Canadians are treated differently and that black people in North America exist in a stressful, racist culture at every level. That even though I have suffered as a woman, I have never suffered because of the color of my skin. That people of color are far more likely to die or be imprisoned

Almost Free ACV Hair Rinse

Before raving about the benefits of making your own ACV Hair Rinse, here is an even simpler trick; After you wash and condition your hair, rinse it in cold water. This will make your hair noticeably softer and shinier. Try it. Why does it work? Because cold water has less minerals than hot water. Hot water picks up minerals going through the heating process. Even better than cold water is to rinse your hair with rain water. Rain water is soft because it doesn’t have any minerals in it. If you’re lucky enough to be able to collect rainwater, it

Does My No-Poo Shampoo contain Herbs that Darken Hair?

Sophia asked if my No-poo Shampoo Tea have a combination of herbs that darken hair or alter/affect the color? It is a great question and I had to do a little research to answer it. If you are using my No-poo shampoo herbal combination to darken your hair quickly, you’ll probably be disappointed. However, there is a chance that your hair will start growing in darker or with less grey. However, if your goal is to have 100% certainty that you will see absolutely no color change on your light, very blonde or white hair, read on. Testing for Herbs

Clay Face Mask with Tepezcohuite

The featured ingredient in my Face Mask for Mature Skin is tepezcohuite. This mask is made for mature, delicate or damaged skin. Tepezcohuite is Mimosa tenuiflora (also called Mimosa Hostilis) . I picked it because of its reputation for healing and strengthening skin. Ancient peoples have been using it topically in Brazil and southern Mexico for centuries and continue to use it today. While this is certainly not conclusive, I am impressed by its ancient reputation and provide it in my mask for us modern women to test ourselves. Face Mask with Tepezcohuite is a bit Controversial Actually, it’s

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