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Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is all the rage… Fashionistas and health bloggers are raving about its health benefits. What is it all about?

It’s actually an ancient Ayurvedic technique (also known as “Gundusha” or “Kavala”) used to clean teeth and to improve oral health. The technique involves swishing oil in the mouth for up to 20 minutes on a regular basis (even daily). The idea is oil will dissolve impurities in the mouth and “pull toxins out” from in-between the teeth. It’s a little like oil-based skin cleansers that are also very popular at the moment; the idea is “like dissolves like”. The added benefit of oil is that it’s gentle and healing to gums and teeth. However, I wouldn’t recommend replacing tooth brushing and mouth rinsing… add oil pulling to your usual routine.

Many people find the idea of swishing oil in their mouth rather repulsive… But don’t knock it. I gave this technique a go and I got used to the sensation pretty quickly. Furthermore, I started feeling the difference within days: my mouth never felt so squeaky clean, and my breath is definitely fresher. Empirical evidence and some research studies all suggest oil pulling works to clean the mouth and reduce harmful bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans (responsible for tooth decay). Ayurveda and fans of oil pulling suggest it can improve overall health and cure a myriad of ailments… It’s not so far-fetched. Oral health and gum disease have been strongly linked with health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

So which oil to use? Traditional cultures use sesame or sunflower oil… but that was probably what was readily available then. Coconut oil is an ideal choice now. It is rich in lauric acid which possesses natural anti-bacterial properties (and I think it’s particularly yummy). Is there anything coconut oil can’t do?!

How to do it:

* Put 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil into the mouth.

* My Naturopath friend recommended I add 2 drops of pure Oregano Oil (for its antibacterial properties) – optional.

* Swish for 20 minutes. From my research on the topic, it seems this is the ideal length of time. According to Dr. Bruce Fife, author of Oil Pulling Therapy, 20 min is long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not long enough for the body to reabsorb toxins and bacteria.

* The oil gets thicker and milky as it mixes with Saliva. It will look creamy white when you spit out.

* Always spit it out (remember that you’ve been dislodging plaque and bacteria). And remember to spit it into a rubbish can (coconut oil solidifies when cold!)

* Afterwards rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water.

* Brush your teeth, floss and gargle.

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Natrol Garcinia Cambogia

Are you struggling to get back into a regular eating pattern after the constant snacking in the festive season? Natrol Garcinia Cambogia may help you change bad habits and lose that puppy fat you gained. It has been seen to help with reducing food cravings, reducing fat production, and increasing serotonin levels. Not only do you lose weight, you feel good about it too. Chat to one of our in store product advisers about how to get the best results with this product.

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Minami MorEPA

Yogini in Edgware and Santha from Kingston both love Minami MorEPA smart fats. This is a supercritical ECO friendly Omega-3 fish oil with a high EPA concentration– this Omega-3 fatty acid aids in the maintenance of clear blood vessels and may promote a good mood and support concentration. MorEPA helps to restore your fatty acid balance has been proven scientifically. It’s back to school soon – when using this fish oil, students show more inclination to make extra mental efforts. Omega 3 has also been seen to reduce inflammation in the body, most notably in the joints. A good all-rounder we think.

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A.Vogel Dormeasan

Danielle in our Kingston Store finds A.Vogel Dormeasan a very useful product to keep around the house. She says:”It is great for helping to get to sleep when your body is tired but your brain just doesn’t want to go to sleep. I find the drops more useful than any herbal sleeping tablets as you can adjust the dosage to your needs, for example taking a little less if you’re waking up feeling drowsy.”

Dormeasan is a herbal sleep remedy made from extracts of freshly harvested, organically grown Valerian root and Hops. Dormeasan is available in the form of a liquid herbal tincture, taken just half an hour before going to bed, it can help if you worry that you can’t sleep. This remedy causes drowsiness. If you’re unsure which sleep remedy is right for you, visit one of our stores for more advice on getting into a good sleep pattern and having a better night’s rest.

 

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Solgar Full Spectrum Curcumin

Branka in our Watford Store loves Solgar’s new Full Spectrum Curcumin 185x. It provides better bio-availability than standard curcumin supplements which are poorly absorbed, the bioavailability is 185x better making it readily available for your body. If absorption goes up, greater levels of active curcumin can be released across multiple pathways to support joint, brain and immune health.

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Immitec Immiflex

This weeks staff favourite is Immitec Immiflex. Muhi, our Putney store manager says: “This is my favourite product for immune support. When I am coming down with something or I am run down I always take one capsule twice daily and I feel much better within 48 hours.
This is an absolutely fantastic product for prevent and sort out immunity problems. I always recommend it to customers if they are feeling unwell.
Immiflex contains Beta Glucans and Vitamin D3 and this bio-active compound has been tested and proven to be a good immune booster.”

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Hope’s Relief Rescue Cream

Hope’s Relief has been formulated over 35 years of research and originally created by a Naturopath for her own daughter. Hopes Relief is now an award winning brand, Australia’s No1 natural eczema cream and renowned by mothers and trusted by families’ worldwide. Hope’s Relief cream is packed with natural, active ingredients including: Hospital Grade Organic Manuka Honey NPA 10+, Gotu Kola, Aloe Vera, Organic Calendula and Licorice Root to soothe and repair damaged skin. Their pilot study showed that 93% of people show significant improvement.

The cream is cooling and soothing, it is suitable for those prone to eczema and dry, itchy skin conditions and helps to keep skin moisturised. Because there are no petrochemicals or other toxic ingredients to be absorbed through the skin, it is suitable for use on babies, children and adults for extended periods with no harmful side effects.

We have all hopes Relief Products 20% throughout December!

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A.Vogel Bronchosan Pine Cough Syrup

Dipti in Muswell loves A.Vogel Bronchosan Pine Cough Syrup. She says: “Really effective, I was suffering from a stubborn cough for days that would just not shift. I literally have tried everything in the shop and so far this is the one product that has calmed my cough down. I highly recommend it to anyone with a cough or just to have in the cupboard for the winter months.”

Cough syrups help to ease the irritation in the respiratory tract. They are sometimes required after a cold or flu, or following other infections of the respiratory tract. Bronchosan Pine Cough Syrup is made from freshly harvested pine (spruce) shoots, and as conventional cough syrups may contain synthetic ingredients or cause drowsiness, some prefer to use a cough syrup containing herbal or natural ingredients which are not associated with these concerns.

 

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Pacifica Soy Candles

We love Pacifica Soy French Lilac Candles. They are handmade with vegetable soya wax and 100% cotton lead-free wicks and essential and natural oils. Perfumed in a traditional French style, this fresh scent conjures spring with a blend of Lilac, Magnolia Leaves, Heliotrope, Ylang Ylang, Hyacinth and subtle notes of Nectarine. All Pacifica Candles are 100% vegan. Soy wax is also cleaner burning – no toxins, carcinogens or pollutants which means it’s less likely to trigger allergies. They are also longer lasting – soy wax burns cooler which means that you can enjoy your soy wax candle for generally 30-50% longer than a paraffin candle. So If you’re looking for a Christmas gift, this may be it…even if it is for yourself.

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Zen Sophie Diffuser

Yogini in Edgware loves the Zen Sophie Diffuser. She bought it as a present for family and everyone loved it. The Sophie Diffusers are individually crafted ceramic diffusers using ultrasonic technology to diffuse water and essential oils, into a plume of fine mist and coloured light that can be selected to change softly, stay on a selected colour or be switched off to transform any room.

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