Sunburn and Heritage

Ancestral Heritage & Sunburn

Kevin's Cure Collection contains the natural solution: Yarrow, for sunburn damage to skin. 

Factors that can affect sunburn include genetic heritage, location and drugs. Your ancestral heritage determines a lot about how quickly you may burn when exposed to the sun. Those who are especially fair skinned fare more poorly when exposed to the sun than those who are olive skinned or black. This has to do with the amount of the natural pigment melanin in skin. Melanin is photoprotectant, enabling the body to absorb sun rays as simple heat without DNA damage. The more melanin in the skin, the lesser chance a person has to burn. When we tan, that is due to increased melanin production as a result of sun exposure. In very fair skinned people, there is insufficient melanin for tanning.

Your geographic location is another significant factor with sunburns. Those who live in the tropical latitudes are exposed to more direct sunlight, and must therefore be more careful than those who live in the higher latitudes where the rays of the sun are less direct. 

Drugs also play a role in whether you will burn. Antibiotics, oral contraceptives and anti-anxiety drugs can increase the risk of burns. If you are taking any of these classes of drugs, carefully read the contraindications sections of the data sheets, so you will know whether you are at increased risk of burning.

If you overdo your exposure to the sun and wind up with a mild burn, the following natural remedy can provide soothing relief. However, if you wind up with a serious burn, you will be wise to contact your doctor.

Yarrow

Native Americans used an infusion of the common herb yarrow as a wash for sunburn and other skin disorders. Yarrow relieves the pain of burns and soothes inflamed skin. You can buy dried yarrow in many natural food stores. If you have a sunburn, make a big pot of yarrow tea and add it to a warm or cool bath. The infusion will provide relief.

Kevin's Cure Body Lotion 

Contains Yarrow and other beautiful natural skin care solutions for healthy summer skin.  The Kevin's Cure Collection:  body wash, body balm, body lotion and healing salve.  Visit us at www.sistersky.com to purchase your Natural Solutions from Native Roots.  

Enjoy Your Summer!  

The Sisters

Credit information:  Foxnews.com, July 2012

The Herbal Legacy: WILLOW BARK

How WILLOW BARK works:  

Willow bark has a natural content of salicylic acid, which removes old and dead skin cells from your face and body; it helps your body make way for new and fresh skin cells.  Willow bark also offers anti-inflammatory properties, helping your body relieve swelling and sensitivity.   Willow bark helps your body improve the following skin conditions: dry, dull or lacking moisture. 

WILLOW BARK Native Roots:

• Native Americans used several varieties of the willow; they wove baskets with willow, used willow for pain and reducing fever. 

• The white willow bark was chewed by Native Americans to reduce fevers and relieve headache, white willow bark contains tannins, which are actually good for the digestion.

• The framework of the vapor-bath or sweat-lodge of the Native Americans was made of willow poles, bent and tied with their bark.

• For some Native Americans the willow was mystically connected with the departure of the spirit from the body at death; willow twigs had certain uses in funeral rites.

A Native American Herbal Legacy:

 

Long ago, before medical technology was available, pioneer doctors relied on Native American knowledge of nature to treat illness. Our ancestors freely shared their healing knowledge of plants, roots and berries with early settlers. In fact, Native American herbal treatments were so effective; many have been refined into present day medicine for your health and wellness.  

WILLOW BARK is a Native American legacy herb that is widely used today for your health benefit.  You will find willow bark extract in Sister Sky's White Willow: lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. We hope you found this post an insightful blend of education and history.

Wishing you wellness.  -The Sisters of Sister Sky

 

Sister Sky: White Willow Lotion For Healthy Skin

For Thousands of Years:
Use of willow bark dates back thousands of years for Native Americans, also with the time of Hippocrates (400 BC) when patients were advised to chew on the bark to reduce fever and inflammation. Willow bark has been used throughout the centuries in North America, China, Europe, and continues to be used today for the treatment of pain, headache and inflammatory conditions such as bursitis and tendinitis.  

Natural Pain Reliver: The bark of white willow contains salicin, which is a natural chemical similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). It is thought to be responsible for the pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of the herb. In fact, in the 1800s, salicin was used to develop aspirin. However, studies have identified several other components of willow bark that have antioxidant, fever reducing, antiseptic, and immune boosting properties.

Natural Anti-Inflammatory: As an anti-inflammatory: white willow bark has been used to relieve the painful inflammation and joint pain of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, neuralgia, osteoarthritis, osteroporitic and lower back pain and the inflammatory stages of autoimmune diseases. It may also be an effective alternative for people who cannot tolerate non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.

For Healthy Skin: Used externally, white willow bark's antiseptic properties extend to its help in treating cuts, burns, wounds, sores, sweaty feet, dandruff and as a mouthwash to ease tonsillitis, sore mouth and sore gums. 
Used topically: white willow bark contains Tannins which is a natural astringent and is traditionally used topically to treat wet or oozing skin conditions such as poison ivy and eczema.

 
**Information: University of Maryland Medical Center.

"I love the fragrance of Sister Sky White Willow Skin & Hair care products! I have 2 year old twins and I wash my hands constantly which makes my hands dry and irritated. White Willow lotion smells wonderful and softens my very dry hands. Thanks Sister Sky!". - Sheila T.

 Enjoy the Summer Fun with healthy soft skin.  Try Sister Sky White Willow Lotion TODAY!

- Marina