We need this good fat to balance out the bad fat that is so heavily consumed in the standard American diet -often referred to as “SAD” for good reason. Deficits of good fat can wreak damage on our cardiovascular systems, immune systems and more. Incorporating a quality omega-3 fatty acid supplement into your routine will help support a healthy immune system, healthy skin/hair/nails, and a healthy digestive system.
More IS more when it comes to good bacteria. Research has shown that antibiotics depletes our digestive systems of good bacteria, which may negatively impact our bodies in many ways. This concept – along with poor dietary choices – leaves our guts lacking in the diverse flora needed to be in optimal health. Probiotic supplementation can help support optimal digestion and a healthy immune system, among many other benefits.
Many of us (especially in this region of the world) are deficient in Vitamin D3. This is due to lack of sun exposure – which is how Vitamin D3 is acquired in our bodies. Many of us spend our days indoors without sun. If we are lucky enough to be outside, the winter sun exposure is mild and our layers of clothing inhibit absorption. Supplementation with Vitamin D3 may help protect us from many chronic neurological, cognitive, and mood conditions, according to recent research. Vitamin D3 can help support healthy immune function, healthy energy levels, and a healthy mood.
You’ve probably heard a lot about magnesium lately- and for good reason. Like the other nutrients mentioned here, magnesium is particularly prone to depletion in our foods due to poor soil conditions within industrial farming. Furthermore, processed food, soft water, and caffeine may reduce your body’s absorption of this critical mineral. Magnesium supplementation may help relieve discomfort associated with headaches and muscle cramping, and supports a positive mood and restfulness.
Busy modern lifestyle often leaves people “wired and tired”. Stress robs us of our positive mood, energy levels, and our ability to fight off illness. Simply put, our bodies were not designed to withstand some of the stressful lifestyles we live today. Adaptogenic herbs may help support a more positive reaction to stress – allowing our bodies to potentially better cope with life’s everyday demands. Adaptogens work on our endocrine and nervous systems and help support a healthy reaction to stress, positive mood and restfulness.
Looking for something easy to bring the hostess of that upcoming party? Need an inexpensive gift? Make lovely ornaments that can double as a tea!
Simply fill the ball with the loose herbs. We kept ours simple, using singular herbs in each, but you could create custom blends that could be poured into a tea ball!
Lavender, Chamomile, Lemon Balm
Elderberries, Rosehips, Cinnamon
Marshmallow, Peppermint, Mullein Leaf
Chamomile, Peppermint
Oatstraw, Lemonbalm, Spearmint
In a sea of supplements to choose from, it helps to know what brands to trust. We are pleased to offer a brand WE trust and turn to!
Here’s our favorites from our in-house supplements:
With all that we know now about the benefit’s of taking Turmeric, this is our favorite to keep on hand for regular use. It contains a standardized 475 mg. of curcuminoids that come from a clinically studied source, and is delivered in easy-to-swallow capsules.
Let’s face it, we ALL smile when we see this supplement. We could all use some brain support! With the amount of information we are faced with in todays world, there’s no way we can cope without a little help. This formula boosts brain function with Ginko Biloba, Phosphatidyl Serine, L-Carnitine, DHA, Choline and more.
D3 is essential- and we love the fact that ours only requires a single DROP to get 2,000 IU. One bottle lasts a long time, which makes this not only a potent choice, but an excellent value!
Adrenal Support means helping your body balance it’s reactions to the stressors in you life. Whether stress ramps you up or shuts you down, the reaction takes a toll. Basil Bandwagon Brand Adrenal Support contains Rhodiola, Eleuthero, Schizandra and Ashwaganda: Adaptogenic Herbs help control the reaction, and bring balance to your hormones and energy levels. This supplement also has B vitamins, L-Tyrosine (an amino acid known for helping with anxiety) and Gotu Kola.
Today, June 20, marks the first official day of summer, but the sun and heat have already graced us with their presence here in New Jersey. With the temperature turned up and the Earth tilted closer to the sun, we are more susceptible to dehydration and sun damage. Given this, it’s important to recognize your risk and how you can protect yourself and your health. So… let’s talk summer sun wellness!
To understand the potential damaging effects sun exposure can have on our bodies, we must first understand the science behind it.
What is UV radiation? Part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum emitted from the sun
If UV radiation is “light”, then why can’t I see it? The wavelengths are actually shorter than visible light, making it invisible to our eyes
What are the types of UV radiation? UVA (longest), UVB, and UVC (shortest – mostly absorbed by our ozone layer, without actually reaching the Earth)
How does UV radiation cause damage? Excessive exposure alters our bodies’ lipids, proteins and cellular DNA, producing unhealthy genetic mutations. UVA & UVB radiations can generate reactive chemical species called “free radicals” in our bodies’ cells.
What damage can UV radiation cause? Skin cancers (i.e. basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma), eye damage (including cataracts), premature skin aging, immune system suppression
Doesn’t my body have any natural protection to sun? In short – yes, it does. Melanin – a dark brown pigment in our hair, skin and eyes – is what gives our skin its tone/color. Some people have more melanin, some have less – the darker the skin, the more melanin. Our bodies produce this to help protect deeper layers of our skin from sun damage, but don’t make us immune to damage.
Seek Out Shade Spending time outside is great, but taking refuge in the shade can be your first line of defense.
Choose the Right Clothing Lightweight fabrics and pieces that cover more of your skin are a good idea when your body is going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time. Baseball caps and floppy hats are not only fashionable, but functional for protecting your scalp and face.
Wear Sunglasses Again, not only fashionable, but critical for protecting one of your most valuable assets – your eyeballs! Polycarbonate lenses offer full UVA/UVB protection. Check the label that comes with your glasses to be sure you’re getting proper protection. If not, some optometrists offer UV coat application services.
Check the UV Index Refer to your favorite weather channel or website to check your local daily UV index. While a low index doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take measures to protect yourself, a high index might help you choose when to take extra caution and when to limit exposure.
Apply CLEAN Sunscreen How do I know what’s a clean product from what’s a potentially-harmful product? Here is a short list of general rules to follow, per the Environmental Working Group, which claims that nearly 75% of sunscreen products on the market are inferior or are made with worrisome ingredients:
All this said, there is little evidence to suggest sunscreen alone reduces cancer risk, particularly for melanoma, the deadliest type of which has tripled its rate among Americans over the past 30 years. So, be sure not to use this as your only method of protection.
At Basil Bandwagon, we carry a wide array of sunscreens rated highly by the Environmental Working Group. Find them in our body care section and ask one of our friendly, knowledgeable team members for support in choosing a product that’s best for you. Sprays work great for your scalp, sticks offer superior protection for your face and traditional lotion is great for full-body coverage.
Even with sunscreen protection, the heat and rays can take a lot of moisture out of our skin. It is critical to replenish this to help your skin stay young-looking and healthy! A few of our favorite products that help do this exceptionally well:
Per the US National Institutes of Health, “A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function. If free radicals overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues.”
The good news? “Antioxidants can assist in coping with this oxidative stress.”
Where can you get antioxidants? Well…
www.ncbi.nlm/nih/gov – The National Center for Biotechnology Information
www.aad.org – American Academy of Dermatology
www.skincancer.org – The Skin Cancer Foundation
http://www.hhs.gov/ – US Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.who.int/en/ – World Health Organization
https://www.nih.gov/ – US National Institutes of Health
http://www.ewg.org/ – Environmental Working Group
http://www.nutrex-hawaii.com/ – Nutrex Hawaii
What better topic to kick off our Summer Camp than that of our guts! Central to our body and to our health, our digestive systems sure are important. And when they’re not functioning optimally, we generally know it… pretty quickly. ☹
Whether your goals this summer are to lose weight, improve digestion, lower stress, or eat better, you’ll want take note of all the little details covered during this first week of Camp.
Most of us have experienced many – if not all – of these digestive conditions at some point in our lives:
Most of us know at least one person who has lived with one or more of these digestive-related conditions:
Most of us also know at least one person who has lived with one or more of these neurological, psychological or autoimmune conditions:
Yet, most of us don’t know that ALL of these conditions are potentially directly related to our digestive system.
And since we know that what we feed ourselves and how we care for ourselves impacts the overall function of our digestive system, this information is even more reason to be good to our guts!
Let’s take a step back and examine the makings of the intricate system that enables our food to be broken down into nutrients, absorbed for functionality and excreted as waste. Simplified, when we consume food, it enters our body at the mouth, travels down through the esophagus to the stomach, enters the small intestine, then the large intestine and the rectum, and leaves through the anus. The liver, gallbladder and pancreas all play supporting roles in digestion as well.
In our mouth, our teeth and saliva physically break down our food and begin the digestion process for carbohydrates with an enzyme called salivary amylase. (Hence, the reason why we are told to chew our food thoroughly! The more we chew, the more burden we take off the rest of our digestive system.)
Our esophagus is muscular and uses strength to push our food down to our stomach.
In our stomach, acid is produced to mix with food, primarily to break down consumed proteins.
Our small intestines utilize digestive juices and mechanical force to finish breaking down carbohydrates and proteins and extracting nutrients within.
The liver contributes bile acids for digesting fats, while the pancreas contributes pancreatic juice for digesting starches, fats and proteins.
Several hormones and many nerves also influence the digestion process by regulating appetite and the secretion of digestive fluids, acids as well as the mechanical motions of digestion. All of this contributes to our energy level, growth and cell repair.
It is important to acknowledge that no one system in your body operates on a solo mission – instead, they all work together to create a state of equilibrium that we call living.
Now that you know the basics of digestive operation, what can you do to better care for yourself? Here’s where Summer Camp comes in – shifting your focus to the following five ideals will help you avoid digestive complications:
These simple but critical lifestyle choices can help optimize your digestive organs and their functions.
Supplement Care
Probiotics and enzymes are just two of the supplements available to aid in digestive processes. At Basil Bandwagon, we get a lot of questions about the difference between these supplements. So let’s break it down here:
These Herbal Tonics are Powerful allies in terms of strengthening the body’s ability to both break down and absorb nutrients. Well-made bitters are remarkably palatable; the naturally stimulate the production of enzymes in the mouth, stomach, liver and intestines.
These Herbal Tonics are Powerful allies in terms of strengthening the body’s ability to both break down and absorb nutrients. Well-made bitters are remarkably palatable; the naturally stimulate the production of enzymes in the mouth, stomach, liver and intestines.
Warming, gas-dispelling carminative herbs like Ginger, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Fennel, Allspice and others are effective tonics for indigestions bloating and upset stomach.
A wealth of other supplements and herbs can help support relief from digestive distress, discomfort and disease. At Basil Bandwagon, we are here to support you in finding those that best suit your individual needs – so always feel free to ask a team member for help. With this information, you can better support yourself with appropriate supplements when needed, rather than letting the discomfort get the best of you or the condition worsen.
Exclusive Deal for Summer Campers!
If you aren’t registered for camp, click here to join! While everyone gets to read our 13 Week Blog series, only Summer “Campers” get our exclusive content and coupons!
We all end up with scars. And while we like to honor life’s journey in these bodies, most of us would prefer to minimize their appearance.
There are some simple and luxurious ways to treat scras without chemicals. The first recipe is for scars from cuts and scrapes, strecth marks, and incisions.
All-purpose scar oil
Mix all ingredients and keep in a glass jar (preferably dark glass) and store in a cool, dark place.
Lavendar is a great go-to oil for any skin issue. Inanition to helping heal scars, it treats acne, burns of all kinds, and bug bites. Rosemary can help skin cells regenerate, which will shrink scar tissue. Helichrysum fights inflammation, heals wounds, and soothes skin.
Tamanu oil is excellent for healing scars. It has been used traditionally by indigenous people in Polynesia for its tremendous healing properties. It increases healthy cell growth and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Easy face mask for acne scars
Combine with whisk or fork in a small bowl. This mixture will be liquid, so soak a soft wash cloth in the fluid
and lay it over your face for 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water afterwards.
Despite the cold temps, Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, like this plant sprouting near Frenchtown, N.J., is looking good! The root of this remarkably beautiful plant can be made into a vinegar-based extract that is a very valuable anti-fungal. It is best used topically, and can be applied to athlete’s foot or other fungal overgrowths, where no open wound exists.
Studies show the extract can inhibit the deposition of dental plaque, which is why it is used in mouth rinses. It has excellent anti-microbial activity on the mucous membrane tissues. Once again, however, this is a mouth rinse, not to be ingested. Bloodroot has legitimate internal uses, but should not be used this way unless under the care of a qualified health-care practitioner.
The plant’s most noteworthy physical characteristic is its clasping single grey-green leaf, which wraps itself around the delicate flower when it first appears, later unfurling into a shield-like background for the striking white flower. The small but bulbous root from which the extracts are made contains an acrid red-orange juice wherein lies the medicine. This colorful juice was used as a dye, after careful processing, by Native American people, who adorned clothing and their bodies with it.
Evidence-based herbal and vitamin supplementation is an achievable reality in our 21st century world. Finding quality herbs and supplements, as well as high-quality information about them, requires experience in the marketplace of natural substances. This is what we bring to the consumer’s table: decades of research into herbal medicine as well long experience working with the finest natural supplement manufacturers in the world.
There can be a ten-fold difference in the cost of raw materials for good-quality herbs and supplements versus poor quality. Knowing and trusting your herb and vitamin seller is paramount in a world where bargains are everywhere, but information about sourcing can be scarce.
Taking a degree of responsibility, however small, for one’s own health, is empowering. In addition to exercise, relaxation techniques, and dietary adjustment, herbs and supplements are powerful allies for those seeking optimum health.
Spring is here. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming … and your allergies are driving you nuts. Instead of running to a pharmacy for the usual batch of OTC meds, give these natural products a try:
Sinus Break-UpThis fast-acting liquid compound quickly opens the sinus for easier breathing. It promotes healthy sinus and respiratory systems.
Aller-7 is a proprietary blend of seven herbal extracts clinically proven to promote immune health. Combined with a proper diet, Aller-7 promotes respiratory health and normal breathing seasonally and all year long without side effects.
Aller-7 promotes clear airway passages and normal breathing; stabilizes mast cells, which promote respiratory health; and is a powerful antioxidant protection.
Oregon’s Wild Harvest Aller-AidVery popular with the Basil staff, this compound contains Quercetin and Freeze-Dried Nettle to support your body’s normal histamine-producing response. N-acety cysteine packs an additional punch by brealing down mucous and increasing antioxidant activity.
Urban Moonshine’s Aller-Blast is made with fresh stinging nettle. The formula is unique because it contains the immune-modulating power of reishi mushroom and the tonic action of bitter artichoke. Also included are elder flower and red clover – traditionally used to support a healthy respiratory tract, eyes, nose, and sinus – for a fast acting formula. It can also be taken daily long term.
Locktown Honey Company Local HoneyCompletely locally sourced, this honey is produced by Hunterdon County resident Glen Brewer. It’s unheated and minimally filtered so it retains the maximum amount of beneficial enzymes and bee pollen.
Many people swear by honey’s ability to lessen symptoms of seasonal allergies. As honey has anti-inflammatory effects and is known to soothe coughs, it may not seem like much of a stretch; but honey’s efficacy for treating allergy hasn’t been proven in clinical studies.
That said, some experts say that honey can contain traces of flower pollen, and exposure to small amounts of allergens works as good treatment to combat reactions. Whether it can be proven by science or not is one thing; at worst, honey makes for a delicious placebo . (And don’t knock the healing power of placebos!)
Honey has an unusual chemical composition, one which makes it keep indefinitely without spoiling, as is seen whenever ancient pots of honey, still perfectly preserved, are found during excavations of early Egyptian tombs. It is uniquely low in moisture and extremely acidic, making it a forbidding environment for bacteria and microorganisms. On top of that, bees add an enzyme, glucose oxidase, that creates hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct. According to the National Institutes of Health, honey is hygroscopic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and has remarkable debriding action. Who knew?
With this bonanza of properties, honey has been used for millennia as a medical remedy. As Smithsonian.com reports, the earliest recoded use of honey as a curative comes from Sumerian clay tablets, which convey that honey was used in 30 percent of prescriptions at the time. The ancient Egyptians used honey regularly to treat skin and eye problems, as did the Greeks, Romans, and a number of other cultures.
