Oolong tea benefits have been known for centuries in the Orient. The tea has been cultivated and refined to perfection in Taiwan, China and Japan. Oolong, sometimes called WuLong, is taken from the camellia sinensis plant, the source for all true teas. Oolong is different for how it is oxidized or fermented. Its taste and properties lie somewhere between green and black tea.

Oolong tea benefits are similar to those of green tea, though most oolong is oxidized to a greater degree than green tea. It has less of the raw grassy taste of green tea and tends to be a darker brown color with earthier, woody flavors. Some oolongs when less oxidized can tend to have a green tea taste with a flowery flavor. Either way, the benefits of drinking this tea are legendary.
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When it comes to health, most of us think of fruits and vegetables or laps around the gym until we are tired and sweaty; chances are, we rarely think of seaweed. However, it turns out that kelp is actually one of the healthiest things you can put inside your body. In fact, kelp is called the “miracle plant,� thanks to its healing and therapeutic properties as well as its ability to perform phenomenal acts of wellness.

Kelp’s first talent lies in the fact that it is an ideal source of trace minerals. This means that sprinkling even the smallest amount of kelp on food can provide your body with salt and minerals important to the function of your body. Kelp is also a great source of protein, iodine and iron. All these elements help both the thyroid and blood cells work to the best of their ability while leaving you feeling overall healthy.
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For years now, many of us have been hearing about the benefits of natural remedies. One of the most popular natural remedies in use is in the berry family. From blueberry to strawberry, from raspberry to acai, berries everywhere are basking in the limelight watching as their popularity continues to grow.

Aside from the more common berries such as blueberry, there are many lesser-known beneficial berries. For instance, you might not have heard of the Schisandra berry. Unknown among the Western countries, this berry is extremely popular remedy among the Chinese due to the many benefits that they derived.

In fact, the Chinese have used Schisandra berries as a staple in their diet for centuries.
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When it comes to thinking about beauty products, chances are you think of name brands, lotions and cleansers available at the local drugstore or shampoos and conditioners sold by your hair dresser. Chances are you might be overlooking what’s under the sea.

It turns out that the sea is the birthplace to several beauty products and treatments. A variety of these products help the skin remain fresh and young (no wonder you can never tell a fish’s age), while giving yourself a sense of renewal.

In particular, seaweed, and the products derived from it, has become a bit of a magic serum when it comes to the skin. It is often utilized as a natural spa treatment, in the form of a seaweed rub for rejuvenating skin.
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Just as many Eastern cultures have embraced the offerings of the land, using roots, herbs and plants for medicinal and everyday purposes, so have Native Americans. In fact, Native American herbs were among some of the most widely and commonly used herbs in the past.

The Native American culture is a culture of creativity bent on finding original ways to use all kinds of things on Earth; it is almost as if no plant goes to waste. They use herbs to make medicines, teas and even insect repellent.
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Chances are, you don’t look longingly at flowers, licking your lips and hoping for a taste; simply put, you are not a giraffe. While eating flowers might not be a common thing among the human population, it turns out that they may actually be good for us, at least their extracts are. This is particularly true for the Hibiscus flower.

The Hibiscus flower is actually not one flower but a combined genus of around 220 floral species. These flowers are grown in naturally warm, subtropical and tropical climates, such as the Caribbean. A variety of these species are known for their exceptional beauty and vivid colors, but they have also received accolades for their other talents.

Using Hibiscus flowers for health their health benefits has become a common practice. These flowers may possess similar benefits to red wine and green tea.
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In 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon set out to find the Fountain of Youth, a legendary spring that could keep people from aging. What he found instead was Florida. Nevertheless, his quest is one that still exists today. Though most of us do not take the extreme measures of de Leon, we still want to know the secret of youth. One of these secrets is vegetable glycerin.

Vegetable glycerin is a type of compound derived from vegetable oil, most often coconut or palm. It is very easy to produce which makes it a common compound in all kinds of things including food, hair care products and makeup.

Depending on its use, vegetable glycerin has many benefits. The following are just a few:
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Do you love the smell of lavender? You’re not alone. Its easy to absolutely love it. In fact, lavender has been cultivated and used for centuries by all different cultures. Did you know that dried lavender flowers have become the most popular aromatic herb?

Dried lavender holds many different benefits besides smelling so pleasant. Dried lavender flowers are often added to culinary dishes, made into relaxing teas, crafted into an essential oil as a bathwater or applied in small amounts as a skin lotion. It isn’t uncommon to see it added to pillow cases, garment drawers or homemade potpourri for its aroma or added to water and sprayed directly into the air.

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Generally speaking, a tincture is a solution that uses alcohol as the extract. Many people are making tinctures with alcohol and glycerin, and have been used in traditional and alternative medicine practices. Herbal tinctures offer a popular way to use dried herbs and spices for many health purposes. They are easy to make as well.

Tinctures were used historically to preserve the potency of herbal medications. Although dried herbs can lose potency over time, alcohol-based herbal tinctures enjoy a longer shelf life.

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Many people are concerned about the number and kinds of chemicals used in ordinary, everyday products that you use on your body on a regular basis. Synthetic chemicals can be found in toothpastes, shampoos and body lotions. If you are one of those people who have allergies to certain chemicals, it can be challenging finding personal care products such as body lotion that can work well for you and not cause itching or rashes on your skin. It is fairly easy to create your own organic body lotion, however. When you make personal care products for your own use, you know exactly what the ingredients are, and can avoid those to which you are allergic. Even if you do not have allergies, it is a healthier choice to avoid chemicals and use natural and organic products that, after being applied to the skin, will sink in and enter your body.

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