The Truth About Lessening Shampoo Use

Image from: www.naturallythinking.com

If you've read Make Your Own Gugo Shampoo, you'd know that my mom is successful in transcending from commercial shampoo user to Gugo shampoo user, which is more natural and gentler to hair. I am not quite that successful yet.

For a D-I-Y-er, I am quite lazy. I'd rather use baking soda and water on my hair than make my own Gugo shampoo even though it's not that hard either. But one thing is for sure, I want healthy hair and I am sure that I am not going to get it by increasing shampoo use.

Unfortunately, shampooing is not something you can just stop without adverse effects. And even with baby steps, these adverse effects can be felt.

Shampoo, according to my dermatologist, is really for our scalp. It is used to remove the excess oils in our scalp that cause build-up, which later on become dandruff. But did you know that shampoo causes excessive oil production in our scalp? By using shampoo, you make the scalp dry which signals it to produce more oil to maintain its natural state. So if you've been using shampoo all your lives just like me, you've been sending the wrong message to your scalp. And not just that, you're actually overworking it. Our scalp oil is also the reason why conditioner is only placed from hair under your ears to the tips because when we comb (even finger comb) our hair, natural oil is distributed to the upper hair area.

I certainly cannot live without shampoo yet. I am very much envious of the people who can just live on baking soda and water to wash their scalp. Like coffee, water is the most important ingredient in shampooing or washing your hair and scalp. And baking soda helps make hard water become soft water, which helps hair become manageable).

I'm not quite there yet so instead, I'm giving my scalp enough time to adjust. Now, I dilute a drop shampoo in a dipper in approximately 1 cup of water before applying it on my head. Then, I massage scalp as usual and rinse.

The first week is really difficult. My scalp was way too oily and I had build-up. I read that it takes 6 weeks before your scalp can adjust to lessening shampoo use or non-use but the advantages outweigh all of these.

I am currently in my 4th or 5th week (I've lost count but I'm not turning back!) and I noticed that my hair is softer, shinier and more manageable. It even looks nicer when I style it! I notice also that I am not as prone to dandruff when weather changes. Better hair care, healthier scalp, savings, less consumption of chemical products, now that's what I call a sweet deal.

Ginger Tea for Your Bath

Weeks ago, we were practicing for my choir's first concert EVER! With little time to prepare, we practice for hours almost three times a week and with the current weather that's more bipolar than I am when I am on my period, our instruments were in it for some throat setbacks. And our go to? Why Ginger Tea (More popularly known as Salabat here)! And of course, it helped with it's soothing, spicy hot number.

Everything I intake, I research over the Internet for some confirmation. And in my surfing, I found out that Ginger Tea has a lot of skin benefits when you put it in your bath like detoxification, soothes aches and pains, for colds & fever, good blood circulation! And yes it helps soothe menstrual cramps too! I've also read somewhere (I don't remember where, Sorry!) that it's good for dandruff, Psoriasis and removing scars (oooh.)

And of course, being the tea bath girl that I am (try other tea baths like Java Mint, Stevia & Chamomile too),  I decided to try it out. I didn't use any oils. Just good old ginger chopped up. 

What you will need:

A bucket of water

Chopped Ginger

Heater

Instructions:

Place chopped ginger in bucket of water and heat for 20 minutes (The same goes with Ginger tea for oral intake. You can keep reusing while the flavor is still there. It gets spicier every boil.) Add water for the bath and bathe like the usual.

My verdict:

I was suffering from allergies when I tried this. (I got this allergies from trying old perfumes if they have expired. I should charge myself hazard pay. Perfumes are only good for two years. Longer than that and I assure you, you will get bad allergies like mine. I better find a good way for to use these perfumes.) 

It was a concern for me if this would help my allergy condition. I have taken an anti-allergy pill to help me get drowsy and ignore the itch because it's unbearable and unsightly. I rubbed some ginger on my face and body too while in the bath. I don't know if it's the medicine or the ginger but my itch patches are subsiding very quickly. Apart from feeling relaxed, I notice that my skin feels powdery soft after I have towel-dried. Even, my menstrual discomfort is lessened. 

With all these benefits, this is definitely a must do! And if it works so well with my skin, I bet it can do wonders in my scalp. And that's just the tea bath!

Concert

As for our concert, this are the videos if you want to hear them. 

Great Are Your Works

Humayo't Ihayag

I did the solo for 'Great Are Your Works' so I am a living testament that Ginger does work. Goes to show that Ginger is not only voice care material, it's skin care and hair care material too! To the next concert and next ginger bath! 

Tarragon Tea: Calm in a Cup

I've never been a fan of Tarragon until today. I've recently started working full-time and of course, like anything in life, I was adjusting. But I was adjusting so badly, it came to the point that I thought I was having an Adjustment Disorder (Think every form of escapism and shrink here). Note: Don't rely on the Internet to diagnose yourself. You have been warned.  So this morning, I asked my mother if there is such a thing as over-the-counter CALMING medicine. And it was then when my mom suggested that I take Tarragon tea. (For more of my mom's best herbal and herb advice, visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/)

Tarragon tea, according to my mom, calm nerves. I never really enjoyed Tarragon in food but as tea, it was just heavenly. It reminded me of licorice but milder in flavor. It was indeed calming. I had it all day in the office and  I was alert enough. And I got a lot more work done because I was relaxed. And the smell is awesome too! I like how it filled the office with a homey - not so corporate - smell. I researched a bit and found out that it's good for digestion and detox. 

Image from:  http://bluepalletoncanvas.wordpress.com/

But the biggest surprise to me was how it relieved my Dysmennorhea, which explains my hormotional behavior. Don't listen to your emotions all the time especially on those days. Usually on my first day, I feel so much discomfort even when I'm sitting down. But today, I didn't feel so much pain. I was even energetic for a 30-minute stroll.

Get your Tarragon at Php60/seedling. 
Visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for more details. 

I've read that Tarragon essential oil does this pain reliever job. But hey, why bother when you can get it in a cup? 

What you will need:

Tarragon leaves (dried or fresh)

Hot cup of water

What to do:

Steep for 10 minutes and enjoy. You can refill the cup as many times. 

The ideal intake a day is three cups. I think I had 6 today. Dried leaves are said to be more stable. But I like fresh leaves because they smell better and taste much sweeter.

Get your Tarragon at Php60/seedling. 
Visit https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for more details. 

This is good for insomniacs too. Take a cup of Tarragon tea an hour before bed. Calm days and sweet dreams everyone! 

My First Blood Donation

Now this is different from my usual posts. It's nothing DIY but it's a wonderful experience I'd like to share with everyone. 

Ever since I was in college, I've been trying to pass the screening to donate blood. Sadly, I've always failed for a number of reasons; I was either underweight, had low blood pressure, had colds or was under asthma medication.

I thought it was completely hopeless for me to donate blood in the future so every time I receive text messages regarding sick people in our community searching for blood donors, I just prayed for that person.  

But last Friday, things were about to change. I received three messages from different people for the same person who needs blood. It happened to be a very close friend's parent whom I love dearly. We had the same blood-type, O+. I don't really know what came over me but I decided to go. 

I wasn't sure if I was going to pass the dreaded qualifications. We were given a questionnaire, interviewed by the doctor and our blood samples were screened. I was praying so hard that I’d make it and guess what my prayers were answered. 

It was like a dream come true! I gave a bag of my blood! My mom and best friend congratulated for this feat. 

My blood-letting took about 15 minutes to finish. Every 5 seconds, if you ever try it, you will be required to close and open your hands. I really felt my blood rush out from all parts of my body. It was funny because while the bag was still attached to me, I didn't feel my energy leave me. But the moment it was removed, I felt the fatigue. I was required to rest for about 15 minutes. The phlebotomist who assisted me told me that there were proud, bulky guys who stood after the bloodletting and fell flat on the ground. So much for pride. I waited it out. I mean who needs humiliation?

I was told to take iron supplements, eat and rest so no driving or commuting alone after bloodletting.

My friend's mom received my blood after being cross-examined and after getting the doctor's approval. She's still recovering.  I hope she gets better soon.  

It was just really tough luck for me because I had my period the night after I donated blood. I do not recommend this for any woman. I was weak for days because of this. I still may be weak until now. My physical therapist friend told me to take two iron supplements, one in the morning and one at night until my period’s done. So if you are thinking of giving blood, mark in your calendars first when your last period is. It is not suggested to give before you get your period and you definitely cannot give after it. You can donate every 3-6 months. 

Donating blood is good because you not only get a free medical check-up, your blood is cleansed and renewed and it gives your bone marrow a well-deserved work-out. And another perk people probably didn't know, my friends complimented me how slim and how pretty I got. Ha! Who cares about getting weak for days when you get all these benefits? My thighs got really smaller. So that’s where I hide all my blood!

I think I was really fated to give blood last Friday. I mean I always have colds because of my allergic rhinitis but that day, not even a sneeze. Well, I did but after the bloodletting. But among these benefits, what I appreciate the most is being able to help someone. A lot of us people think that we need a lot of money to be able to help out people. Although money is important, I realized that taking care of yourself is not selfish and giving love is free. And this is enough motivation to keep myself fit and healthy. I will definitely be doing this again. I will take care of myself so that until the day I die, I can still give a part of me. How about you? What’s your motivation?