RAISING YOUR ARM TO THE POWER OF NATURE & NATURAL REMEDIES

On my recent vacation, one of my travel partners was an 80 year old MD. He started complaining the first day that his arthritic shoulder was killing him and he could only raise it a little without pain. I told him "I can fix that.”

His response was “yeah right,” but he was willing to have me treat him and see what happened. I told him that if he didn’t have an open mind that I wouldn’t bother. He assured me he would give it a try. The next morning when another member of the group asked him "how's your shoulder?," his response was “worse than ever.” I assumed that he had mentally blocked the treatment.

But, the following morning he came to breakfast and demanded to know “how did you do this?!” as he raised his arm over his head with absolutely no pain. He had zero pain and complete range of motion the rest of the trip.

I am constantly amazed at the power of acupuncture but I also knew that if he had been taking a quality formula of Glucosamine, MSM and Chrondroitin for his arthritis, he wouldn’t have had the issue to begin with. Methyl Sulfonyl Methane is an especially amazing nutrient that is extremely good for connective tissue issues and for skin. That is why derma e® chose it as one of the key ingredients in our Anti-Aging Hand Crème.

Healthy Wishes, Dr. Linda Miles D.O.M. SHARE

CARING FOR YOUR SKIN

Skin is the largest organ system of the human body. It has three main functions: thermoregulation (shivering and sweating), disposal of wastes/toxins, and to protect the body from physical or biological intruders (splinters or pathogens). It also absorbs nutrients. This is a very important role to remember when caring for the skin.

For optimal benefits, look to nature for the most powerful, most easily assimilated nutrients and ingredients. Vitamin E is a natural moisturizer, antioxidant and healing vitamin that encourages cellular regeneration and protects the skin's fatty acid components. This single ingredient inspired the brand of derma e® products. Our Vitamin E 12,000 IU Deep Moisturizing Crème is excellent for all skin types. It strengthens the barrier function of skin. Apply it wherever you wish to prevent or soothe dry chapped skin.

HOW TO TAKE YEARS OFF YOUR FACE

Even though I have been considered a skincare expert for over 20 years, and have been practicing Chinese Medicine for over 10 years, I am constantly learning new information and techniques to improve your health and the natural beauty of your skin.
I attended a seminar last weekend discussing techniques in Facial Rejuvenation. I went expecting to be somewhat bored but was pleasantly surprised. Dr. Liu was very knowledgeable and provided information that I had never heard before. She stated that it was completely possible to take 5, 10 or even 15 years off your face with a combination of acupuncture, herbs and "homework". This "homework" is what I would like to share, as this simple yet remarkable technique alone can take years off your face.

Gua Sha is a technique that has been used in Chinese Medicine for thousands of years and basically involves scraping the skin. Traditionally, it is done with a piece of water buffalo horn but a tablespoon will work just fine. I have used this technique on the back of a body for relieving cold symptoms, but never on the face. Dr. Liu stated that in as little as 10 minutes a day, you can see amazing results on your face. Here is what you do:

Start with a clean face - pat on your favorite moisturizer (very lightly). Divide both the left and right side of your face into 6 zones (you will have 12 zones total), 1.) high forehead 2.) low forehead 3.) zygomatic bone 4.) labial groove 5.) middle of chin and 6) jawbone. Using the edge of the spoon, start at the middle of each zone and scrape towards the hairline and down to the ear. The direction you are scraping is exactly how a plastic surgeon would pull the face back towards the hairline and the ear. Apply enough pressure so that you feel the scraping but not enough to cause pain. Your skin might turn a little red because you are encouraging blood flow to the area. Repeat scraping motion 10 times in each zone. For best results, perform this technique nightly.

The results from this simple procedure are truly amazing! Your skin will immediately look brighter and healthier. Why does this work so well?? Gua Sha encourages blood flow to the area bringing nutrients to the skin and promoting the removal of toxins. Additionally, you are exfoliating the skin by removing dead and dying skin cells and exposing younger, plumper healthier looking skin. Lastly, reflexology teaches that the entire body is represented in the face therefore we are effectively giving ourselves a whole body treatment with this simple technique. Before bed is the best time to do this because it is very relaxing. By focusing some time and energy on our face, we can lift years and help our skin look as young and healthy as possible.

More Pycnogenol Information

I cannot say enough good things about Antioxidants and how if we are truly health conscious that we should be taking them internally and of course applying them topically. Pycnogenol is one of my favorite antioxidants and the following article written by Sondra Miles elucidates further the benefits of this exceptional ingredient that Nature has provided.


Pycnogenol for Skin Health

One of the most exciting ingredients in natural skin care today, Pycnogenol® delivers powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial benefits directly to the skin. Harvested from the bark of the French Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.), Pycnogenol, a patented ingredient, is a well-researched complex of procyanidins and polyphenols. Substantial studies using both dietary supplements and topical formulations containing Pycnogenol clearly demonstrate that Pycnogenol offers tremendous benefits for the health of the entire body. Topical application of Pycnogenol, which is readily absorbed by the skin, protects skin from the constant bombardment of free radicals, diminishes and prevents inflammation, and promotes overall skin health.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory
The initial excitement surrounding Pycnogenol came from the discovery that Pycnogenol is one of the most powerful antioxidants known and a potent anti-inflammatory. Antioxidants function to protect the body from free radicals, unstable molecules that harm tissues and DNA, contributing to both aging and the development of a variety of diseases. UV radiation, from sunlight, generates a large amount of free radicals that damage skin cells and the structural components of skin causing photoaging of the skin (wrinkles, lines, loss of elasticity, and pigmentation changes) as well as some types of skin cancer. Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, Pycnogenol, and many others are the body’s natural defense against free radicals; they inactivate free radicals thereby preventing them from causing harm.

As an antioxidant, Pycnognenol provides two levels of antioxidant protection for skin. First, Pycnogenol scavenges free radicals, even outperforming a variety of antioxidants including vitamins E and C, Co Q10, and Lipoic Acid. Secondly, Pycnogenol works synergistically with other antioxidants by improving the functioning of vitamin C, protecting vitamin E from degradation, and increasing the amount of some natural antioxidants produced by the body. By both outperforming other antioxidants and enhancing the function of other essential antioxidants, Pycnogenol provides superior antioxidant protection for the skin.

Pycnogenol also promotes skin health by fighting inflammation. Studies show that Pycnogenol can both prevent skin inflammation and soothe already inflamed skin. In early studies, Pycnogenol significantly reduced swelling and redness caused by chemical irritants, demonstrating Pycnogenol’s anti-inflammatory properties. In a more recent study, Pycnogenol was shown to prevent inflammation. UV radiation causes inflammation, edema, and sunburn. However, scientists found that applying Pycnogenol after exposure to UV radiation decreases the edema and inflammatory response.[i] (Sime and Reeve, 2004). The researching supporting Pycnogenol’s potent anti-inflammatory activity suggests that Pycnogenol may be an ideal ingredient to treat inflammatory skin conditions, such as Rosacea. However, the research has yet to be done. Nevertheless, the current research shows that nourishing your skin with Pycnogenol can both calm already inflamed skin and prevent inflammation, leaving your skin healthier and happier.

Skin Tone & Circulation
In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities, Pycnogenol also functions in other ways to protect important structural components of skin. Studies show that Pycnogenol preferentially binds to important skin components such as collagen and elastin, protecting them from damage and degradation.[ii] Collagen and elastin are the structural framework of skin, giving skin its elasticity and tone. Damaged, aged collagen causes skin to sag and wrinkle. By protecting collagen and elastin, Pycnogenol helps protect and improve skin elasticity and tone.

Collagen is also an important component of capillary walls. Because Pycnogenol binds to the collagen lining the capillary walls and protecting the integrity of the walls, Pycnogenol also helps maintain the health of the capillaries and prevent the capillaries from leaking fluid (leaky capillaries can cause spider veins and undereye puffiness). In addition to strengthening the capillary walls, Pycnogenol also helps improve circulation by dilating blood vessels. Stress hormones can cause constriction of capillaries, decreasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Pycnogenol can help to relax those blood vessels, improving blood flow and nourishing cells. Healthy, relaxed capillaries means healthy cells and healthy skin.

Wounds and Scars
Recent research also showed that Pycnogenol possesses antimicrobial activity. In the study, Pycnogenol inhbited the growth of a wide-variety of different bacteria as well as yeast and fungi.[iii]Additionally, studies show that topically applied Pycnogenol accelerates wound healing. Topical application of Pycnogenol not only sped up wound healing, but when Pycnogenol was applied to the wound, the scar size was decreased (Blazso et al., 2003).[iv] These results suggest that Pycnogenol may also benefit those with acne. A current study is investigating this, but the results are not yet available.


Pycnogenol clearly delivers a plethora of health-promoting benefits to skin: it can help restore health to previously damaged skin, soothe inflamed skin, and protect skin from future damage. In addition to its many benefits for the skin, oral Pycnogenol has been shown to be beneficial in patients with chronic venous insufficiency, asthma, cardiovascular disease, as well as many other conditions. To optimize skin health and protect skin from daily insults, nourish your skin with Pycnogenol!

[i] Sime, S. and Reeve, V.E. “Protection From Inflammation, Immunosupression, and Carcinogenesis Induced by UV Radiation in Mice by Topical Pycnogenol.” Photochemistry and Photobiology 79 (2004): 193-198.

[ii] Grimm, T., Schäfer, A., and Högger, P. “Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases By Metabolites of Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol).” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 36 (2004): 811-822.

[iii] Torras, M.C., Faura, C. A., Schönlau, F., and Rohdewald, P. “Antimicrobial Activity of Pycnogenol®.” Phytotherapy Research 19 (2005): 647-648.

[iv] Blazsó, G. Gábor, M., Schönlau, F. and Rohdewald, P. “Pycnogenol® Accelerates Wound Healing and Reduces Scar Formation.” Phytotherapy Research 18 (2004): 579-581.



About the Author
Sondra Miles has a BS in Brain and Cognitive Sciences with a minor in Chemistry from MIT. She writes extensively on natural skin care, topical antioxidants and skin botanicals and is a member of the Research and Development team at derma e® Natural Bodycare.



For a free sampler pack and catalog of derma e products visit http://www.dermae.com/samples.

My Full Bio

Linda Miles DOM, Vice President of derma e® Natural Bodycare, has been a pioneer in the development of innovative, high-performance natural bodycare products. She blends her knowledge of complementary and holistic healthcare with the latest in biotechnology to create truly natural, healthy products for the skin. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from UCLA and a Masters in Business Administration from California State Northridge. She is an appointed member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

As part of her lifelong passion in holistic health, Linda also earned her Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine from Emperors College of Traditional Oriental Medicine and later a Doctor of Oriental Medicine from the State of New Mexico.

Helping others, including both people and animals, and giving back to her community has always been important to her. She currently donates her time as an acupuncturist at a clinic for the underserved in Pacoima, California (this clinic is part of an organization called MEND: Meet Each Need with Dignity).

Linda also serves as the Executive Director of 2nd Chance Dog Rescue in Acton, California.

She and her husband live on a three-acre ranch surrounded by animals. They have two daughters who have also chosen to pursue science and healing: their older daughter is studying medicine at UCSF, and their younger daughter is studying veterinary medicine at Tufts University.

Welcome To The Natural Skin Care Blog!

Hello Everyone,
Welcome to The Natural Skin Care Blog! To get things started, an article by my
daughter, Sondra Miles.

Healthy Skin 101
Understanding Topical Antioxidants: How Anti-Aging Skin Nutrients Work
By Sondra Miles

Touch your face,
what do you feel? Look in the mirror, what do you see? You are looking at your largest organ and the part of you that everyone sees: your skin. Though often under appreciated, your skin performs many important physiological functions and is extremely susceptible to free radical damage. To function optimally and stay healthy, your skin needs nourishing with antioxidants from the inside and outside.

Free Radicals
Our bodies are under continuous attack by free radicals, extremely reactive molecules produced by our environment and our bodies that damage cells and tissues. Free radical damage to skin causes wrinkles, loss of tone, hyper pigmentation, aging, and skin cancer. On the inside, free radical damage is implicated in various diseases including cancers, degenerative diseases, and inflammatory illnesses as well as the aging process itself[i].

Antioxidants
Our body has a natural defense mechanism to protect itself from the danger of free radical attack: antioxidants. Antioxidants are specific vitamins, minerals, or nutrients that inactivate free radicals before they can damage cells. Hundreds of antioxidants exist; some, such as Alpha Lipoic Acid, the body produces whereas others, such as
vitamins E and C, we must consume. They each function slightly differently but work together synergistically to keep the body and skin healthy.

Antioxidants and Skin
The skin is constantly exposed to free radicals produced by harmful pollutants in the environment and, most significantly, UV light. To maintain healthy, youthful skin we must ensure that our skin has enough antioxidants to adequately protect itself. We can
deliver these antioxidants to our skin through diet, supplements, and topical products.

For our overall health, we need a healthy diet and supplements, but for the health of our skin, internal nourishment is not enough: topical antioxidants are essential. Internal supplementation improves the levels of antioxidants in skin cells, but research now shows that topical application delivers these important nutrients to the skin much more
quickly[ii]. Countless studies demonstrate that topical antioxidants protect skin from UV damage, reduce inflammation, and protect against certain types of cancer.

Topical Antioxidants
Topical formulations contain many different antioxidants: choose a combination for your skin. Some are stronger than others and many offer additional health benefits. Vitamins C and E, two well-known antioxidants, are both essential for skin health. Additionally, vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis, and vitamin E provides excellent hydration benefits. Astaxanthin, a carotenoid, is 500 times more powerful than vitamin E[iii] and anti-inflammatory. Pycnogenol®, another powerful antioxidant, helps improve microcirculation and also enhances the function of vitamin C[iv].

These topical antioxidants, as well as others, will protect your skin and optimize skin health, but choose topical products carefully. Look for products that have effective concentrations of these important antioxidants and avoid products that contain potentially harmful ingredients such as mineral oil, petrolatum, and parabens.

Sondra Miles has a BS in Brain and Cognitive Sciences with a minor in Chemistry from MIT. She writes extensively on natural skin care, topical antioxidants and skin botanicals and is a member of the Research and Development team at derma e® Natural Bodycare. For a free sampler pack and catalog of derma e® products visit http://www.dermae.com/samples.

[1] Packer, Lester Ph.D. and Colman, Carol. The Antioxidant Miracle, (New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999), 24.

2Packer and Colman, 200.

3Guerin, M., Huntley, M.E., and Olaizola, M. “Haematococcus astaxanthin: Applications for Human Health and Nutrition.” Trends in Biotechnology 21 (2003): 210-216.

4Packer, L., Rimbach, G., and Virgili, F. “Antioxidant Activity and Biologic Properties of a Procyanidin-Rich Extract from Pine (Pinus Maritima) Bark, Pycnogenol.” Free Radical Biology and Medicine 27 (1999): 704-724.

Wishing you healthy natural skincare