An Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo that Works

I chanced by Forest Magic hair saver products during one of my health store trips early this year. They caught my attention because they are made of gugo bark extract, which my mom used to keep her waist-long hair shiny back in her younger years.

Gugo: A Herbal Wonder

Entada Phaseoloides or simply, gugo, is a large woody vine that is commonly found in lowland coastal forests in Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Western Pacific (Source: NTBG). I was surprised to find out about its medicinal uses other than treating dandruff and hair loss. But for this post, let us just focus on this. According to Forest Magic's product labels, gugo barks contain saponin, which stimulates hair growth, helps control psoriasis and dandruff, prevents premature baldness, controls lice, and strengthens hair roots in order to make our scalp healthy and hair, shiny.

From a Credible Manufacturer

Upon inspecting the label, I saw that Forest Magic is a brand under CRD Herbal Products, Inc. CRD stands for Dr. Carlita Rex-Doran, a Filipino inventor who was awarded by the Department of Science and Technology in 1990 for Best in the Use of Indigenous Materials. (Read more about Dr. Rex-Doran here.)

Having read (and verified) this information -- thanks to the free WiFi at Echostore, I purchased both the shampoo and the liquid lotion as gifts for someone who had a really bad case of hair fall. I also bought the shampoo at a much later date and made a little experiment recently.

Simple and Easy to Use

Forest Magic Herbal Hair Saver Shampoo is used just like any shampoo. After applying a small amount on wet hair, it has to be gently massaged in three to five minutes then rinsed thoroughly.

While it is advised that the Forest Magic Herbal Hair Saver Lotion be used in the morning and the evening, some users may consider using it at night only due to its natural gugo bark scent, which I assume might not appeal to everyone. After bathing, apply a few drops of the lotion and massage on scalp for five to 15 minutes prior to rinsing. It can also be left on overnight.

The Results

One visible result of using both products was the significantly less amount of hair that was collected in the drain after a few weeks. (Sorry, I do not have a picture.)

On the other hand, I did not observe any remarkable difference on my psoriasis but I did document some obvious benefits of Forest Magic shampoo in terms of hair fall reduction: Using the same comb and conditioner but different shampoos, it can be noticed that I lost more while combing after a bath.

Taken a day apart...
I won't share what the "Other Brand" is; the anti-hair fall shampoo is definitely Forest Magic.

Actually, the first picture (above) was a re-take since I thought that the comb that I originally used for the mini experiment was fine-toothed. Nonetheless, I am sharing how it looked like:

I thought that I could have possibly lost more hair here because the comb's teeth were finer than the other one.

Forest Magic products are available at Echostore (with branches at Serendra, ETON Centris and Podium) and in some online sellers at sulit.com.ph.

Forest Magic products posted by sassyennaid, a seller at Sulit.

Calamansi Juice Instaboost!

To obtain maximum benefits, squeeze 8-10 pieces
of calamansi and sweeten with 2 tablespoons
of natural honey.

Known to the Western world as Asia's golden lime, calamansi, calamandarin or calamondin possesses medicinal value, which makes it an effective antidote for a variety of health problems. For this post, let us focus on the benefits of drinking calamansi juice, a refreshing drink that is famous in the Philippines.

Prevention & Cure for Cough, Colds and Other Infections. Daily consumption of calamansi juice gives a boost to the body's immune system since it is rich in Vitamin C. It is best consumed as a hot tea, mixed with natural honey, for treatment and relief from cough and colds.

Natural Laxative. Calamansi juice is also said to help improve digestion, as well as address constipation.

Heart Care. Aside from being a rich source of Vitamin C, calamansi also has high potassium content, which makes helps in the treatment of heart ailments.

In addition to the health benefits listed above, calamansi juice has some aesthetic benefits:

• it aids in weight loss; and
• it helps rejuvenate the skin.

So make drinking calamansi juice a part of your daily health and skin care regimen!

Sources/Additional References:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamondin
2. http://squeeze-c.com/about-us/benefits-of-calamansi/
3. http://www.all-about-philippine-fruits-and-herbs.com/Calamansi-Health-Benefits.html
4. http://healthbenefitsofcalamansi.blogspot.com

Homemade Garlic Soup: An All-Natural Cure for Swollen Tonsils

My version of an all-natural garlic soup

It was quite unfortunate that my daughter met the weekend with a fever and a painful throat. I was hoping we were done with antibiotics for the rest of the year... So I thought of concocting my own garlic soup recipe after reading in naturalnews.com that garlic is an effective herbal cure to tonsillitis, the swelling of tonsils due to bacterial or viral infections. Garlic is said to be a powerful antibiotic, being able to kill a wide range of microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and even parasites.

I am sharing my very simple recipe here after observing that it has quickly (almost immediately) and successfully relieved my daughter's sore throat.

Ingredients:

4 garlic heads

1 1/2 cups of olive oil

1 cup flour

1L water

Salt

Ground pepper

Spring onion

Fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Halve the garlic heads cross-wise using a knife then peel the skin.

2. Heat 1 cup of olive oil on a deep pan using low flame.

3. Once the oil is hot enough, put the garlic and cover the lid until the garlic becomes golden brown.

4. Turn off the flame.

5. Pour one cup of flour then mash and mix with the garlic. To make a rich mix, you may pour the remaining olive oil.

6. Once a smooth combination is made, heat the pan and fry for a while.

7. Slowly add 1L of water while stirring.

8. Season with salt and pepper until desired taste is achieved.

9. Add spring onion that's chopped into small pieces and parsley.

10. Serve hot.

Quick and Safe Home Remedies to Cough and Sore Throat

Manila weather, with its alternating sunny and rainy days, can bring about common cough and sore throat. I usually do not wait for symptoms to worsen; it just takes that familiar sting in the throat to send me to the kitchen cupboard for these quick and safe home remedies that I have learned from my parents.

Warm Salt Water: The Sore Throat Buster

Source: http://img2.timeinc.net/health/img/web/2012/11/slides/gargle-salt-sick-400x400.jpg

Sore throat is usually caused by viral and bacterial infections. One of my tried and tested natural ways to quickly cure inflamed and irritated throat is to gargle warm salt water at least twice a day - upon waking up in the morning and before going to bed at night.

When gargled correctly, warm salt water can help give temporary relief to scratchy throat, as well as wash away the germs that are causing the problem.

How to prepare warm salt water

1. Fill a glass with warm water. (I put warmer water when my sore throat is worse.)

2. Put one tablespoon of salt into the water and stir.

How to gargle

1. Sip a small amount of the mixture and leave it in your mouth.

2. Tilt your head back and start gargling.

3. In order for the salt water to reach lower down your throat, slowly extend your tongue or stick it out while gargling. 

4. Gargle for about 10 to 30 seconds, depending on how long you can hold the salt water in your mouth.

5. Repeat until you consume the whole glass of warm salt water.

Honey: The Natural Expectorant

Source: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/image-files/teaspoon-of-honey-small.jpg

When my mom first told me to treat my daughter's cough with honey, I could not believe her. I thought that honey was sweet - aren't we supposed to stay away from sweets if we're sick? 

So I ran a Google search and found some articles citing studies showing honey as an effective cough remedy. (Click here to read about Dr. Ian Paul's study at ABC News.) I learned that honey has antioxidants and antibacterial enzymes. It helps soothe irritated mucous membranes and eventually, helps stop the cough. (If you think about it, most cough syrups are sticky!)

I tried the honey remedy recently by taking one to three tablespoons of honey before bedtime. I was surprised that by the next day, I was already releasing phlegm and mucous quite easily. I continued taking honey for the next two nights and believe it or not, I was already well by the third or fourth day.

I also tried the same remedy for my eight year-old daughter - only, at smaller doses. I gave her one tablespoon of honey every night and the same results were observed.

Here's a warning though: it is said that honey should NOT be given to children below the age of two.

(For further reading, visit Food Matters and The Survival Doctor.)

I am glad to have tried both remedies so I take the opportunity to share them through Green and Well. I would like to add too that these remedies work best when coupled with proper diet (with a boost of foods that are rich in Vitamin C), plenty of water, and enough rest. In instances when cough and sore throat seem to linger or worsen, it is always best to see a doctor. :-)