I know some of you are struggling with dry, cracked hands. You have emailed me before. Washing hands often is part of my work. I have to.

Maybe you are like me. You have to wash your hands often. You work at a hospital, you are a chef, a gardener, an artist, a caregiver, or you travel a lot, or your hands are just dry.

Healthy skin's pH is slightly acidic. Hand washing with liquid or solid soaps can temporarily disrupt the skin's natural pH balance, as many soaps are alkaline, which can cause dryness and irritation. 

"Dryer skin" means the protective layer is damaged—the layer acting as a "brick wall" to keep moisture in and harmful substances out.

The door is open. Everyone = "bacteria, irritants" found in the environment are all welcome.

These berries increase the skin's ability to form a healthy scab almost in a few minutes by bringing oil into the area, which then reduces irritation and redness.  No wonder, in traditional herbalism, hawthorn is used when there is dryness on the backs of the hands and wrists. This indicates poor secretion from the sebaceous glands, but more deeply, it indicates that the cell walls on the skin are probably short on lipids/oil.

Since I was a little girl, breaking a Pomegranate every new year for good luck has been the tradition back home in Turkey. Little did I know that bitter taste was her secret. It's called tannins. Plants that contain tannins cause a contraction of tissue and close pores so that fluids cannot leak out of the body. They are known as “Astringent” in Greek medicine. 

We want quick results. So I had to call in green tea. This plant has major Bioactives. Bioactive substances are those that can interact with living organisms or tissues and have a measurable effect. 

The bioactivities inside green tea are antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic, which makes green tea significantly improve skin barrier function and minimize infection.

Sage: 
Sage is for wrinkly hands. Not that we don't honour your wise, wrinkly hands here, but if they are causing you discomfort, Sage is here to help. It includes compounds such as Camphor, Carnosol, and Carnosic Acid, which speed up skin cell growth and reduce wrinkle formation. And sage smells heavenly. No wonder it has been used in cleansing rituals. 

 

and as always, plants... They respond to human emotions, thoughts, intentions, and prayers. You want proof, I know. I wanted proof, too. The groundbreaking work of Cleve Backster, a lie detector specialist. He hooked up plants to a lie detector, and when thoughts of harm or love were directed at them, there was a response strong enough to register. No action was necessary—just the thought. Can you believe it? 😲

 

Hawthorn Berries, Pomegranate, Green tea, the wise Sage, they made this for your hands. As you apply, speak to them. Call their names. Start with a simple "Thank you", and then see where the conversation takes you. 
 
"My hands need healing. Sage, would you help me?."
 
We have only been taught the names of the plants. It turns out they are as alive as you and I.

Organic Botanical Hand Balm

I am Hawthorn Berries, I am Pomegranate, I am Green tea, I am the wise Sage...