Posts Tagged ‘nature’

Posted on August 3, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

The Cold Coal Truth

Coal tar, a thick liquid or semisolid obtained from bituminous coal, is an oft-used ingredient in:

• Anti-dandruff shampoos
• Hair dyes
• Topical treatments for psoriasis and skin rashes
• Moisturizers
• Most of the synthetic colors and dyes found in our cosmetics

Why the Goal Should Be No Coal

Coal tar is a…

• known human carcinogen
• contributor to lung and urinary tract cancer
• potent skin irritant

The European Union banned coal tar in 2004. But yep, it’s still in play here in the U.S., even though it scores a 10 (highest hazard rating) in the super helpful Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database. And the Centers for Disease Control recommends that coal tar simply should not come in contact with your skin.

Coal tar can also be listed on ingredient lists as:

• Tar
• Coal
• Coal tar solution

What to do? Invest in organic personal care products. The Organic Trade Association says it best with their campaign Organic: It’s Worth It. I love this title since it frankly admits that yes, organic is more expensive…but it is a worthy investment in order to protect your health and the health of your loved ones.

Posted on July 3, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Goosebump Alert: Try Cold-Water Therapy!

As the temps get hotter and hotter this time of year – true of pretty much anywhere you live in the U.S. – now is a great time to tap into cold-water therapy!

The underlying premise of cold water therapy is that briefly and somewhat regularly exposing the body to certain kinds of natural stresses (like cold water) can enhance health.

Cold Shower Power

The communal DIY site, Earth Clinic Folk Remedies, recommends cold showers – but encourages you to heat the bathroom before to make exiting a cold shower more palatable. According to the site, cold-water therapy…

• Brings blood to the capillaries, therefore increasing circulation throughout the body
• Cleans the circulatory system
• Reduces blood pressure on internal organs
• Provides flushing for the organs and provides a new supply of blood
• Strengthens the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems
• Contracts the muscles to eliminate toxins and poisonous wastes
• Strengthens the mucous membranes, which help resist hay fever, allergies, colds, coughs

Note that the site also warns against cold showers for women who are menstruating.

4 Steps to Chilling Out

How to take a cold shower may seem obvious, but taking a modified approach will help you ease into cold-water therapy.  Here’s the best way to introduce a cold-water shower into your personal care routine.

1. Begin with your standard warm water shower, hopefully scrubbing up with a bar of organic soap.

2. When finished, step out of the water stream and turn off the hot water; leave the cold water running.

3. Start the cold-water therapy by wetting your feet first. Next, expose the hands and face.

4. Finally, step under the shower. Let the cold water run over your scalp, face, the front of your body, then down your back. Start with a couple of seconds and work up to 40 seconds.

Do whatever is comfortable: you can get great benefits from applying cold-water therapy to your feet, hands and face alone!

Cold Water Trivia

Cold-water therapy was first popularized by the German priest Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897). In the winter of 1849, Kneipp successfully battled then-incurable tuberculosis by plunging several times weekly into the frigid Danube River. His 1886 book, My Water Cure, became an international best-seller.

Still committed to your languorous bath time? We support you 100%!

Posted on June 3, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

What is Biomimicry?

A concept as old as the hills (literally!), biomimicry has recently taken the spotlight as ‘green‘ awareness continues to grow.  But what exactly is ‘biomimicry’? According to the not-for-profit Biomimicry Institute:

“Biomimicry is the science and art of emulating Nature’s best biological ideas to solve human problems.”

Consider these eye-opening examples…

• Non-toxic adhesives inspired by geckos
• Energy efficient buildings inspired by termite mounds
• Resistance-free antibiotics inspired by red seaweed

Nature’s Know-How

Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry, says that biomimicry is simply the act of  borrowing nature’s ideas.

Here are 9 top principles Benyus includes in her book worthy of our introspection:

1. Nature runs on sunlight
2. Nature uses only the energy it needs
3. Nature fits form to function
4. Nature recycles everything
5. Nature rewards cooperation
6. Nature banks on diversity
7. Nature demands local expertise
8. Nature curbs excesses from within
9. Nature taps the power of limits

Is it any wonder that personal care brands like Napa Valley Bath count on nature to fuel our products – and feed your skin?  Nature is a master designer, worthy of our affection, recognition and pure respect.

Do you use any products or services that are directly inspired by nature’s practice? Let us know, right here!

Posted on April 27, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Sustainability and the Three Ps

Sustainability is another big buzz word being tossed around a lot these days, from marketing claims to news reports to lawmakers in the White House.

But what, exactly, is sustainability?

I like the definition coined by the UN in 1987: sustainability is the ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

It’s a focus on being ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially just and humane, according to the Alliance for Sustainability.

The Three Ps

Tying in nicely to sustainability is the equal balance of people, planet and profit – another favorite concept of mine commonly referred to as the ‘the triple bottom line.’

Napa Valley Bath, for example, is a sustainable organization. Here’s how NVB plays nice with the three Ps:

• People: NVB practices fair trade. Everyone involved in the made-in-the-USA production of its bath and body products is treated equally and paid fairly.
• Planet: All of NVB’s product ingredients are organic or at minimum, grown and sourced responsibly. That means there is no unnecessary burden on the land, and no pesticides or herbicides to poison the water or air.
• Profit: To all those who think ‘green and good,’ can’t produce the other green – money – Napa Valley Bath says “not true.” Peggy O’Kelly, NVB’s owner and founder, has been committed to doing the right thing by people and the environment since she founded St. Helena’s Olive Oil in 1994. And guess what? She makes a profit doing it. Peggy even spreads the love even further by letting people nationwide host their own at-home parties featuring St. Helena’s Olive Oil products!

What words come to mind when you think of ‘sustainability’? Share your thoughts and insights right here!

Posted on March 3, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

3 Easy Tips to Try Aromatherapy At Home

We’ve touched on what aromatherapy can do for your body.  So let’s look at what amazing aromatherapy can do for your home.

Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils to enhance our physical and mental well-being. Essential oils are highly concentrated distilled essences of plants that smell truly delightful. They are diluted either by water or with a ‘carrier oil,’ depending on the intended use of the essential oil.

Organic lavender essential oil – our personal fave – has the ability to evoke and increase the release of serotonin, thus producing a calming effect.¹

Try these simple at-home tips and bring the soothing power of aromatherapy to your abode!

1. Create a Simmering Scent

To freshen air inside your home, drip some of our favorite scent into a pot of water and simmer mixture on the stove top for several hours.

2. Try Tug-Worthy Toilet Paper

To ensure there’s always a fresh scent in the bathroom, add a few drops of essential oil onto the cardboard roll that holds the toilet paper. The fragrance will release with each pull. Remember to repeat with each new roll you hang.

3. Reinvent the Room Deodorizer

Conventional so-called room deodorizers are just chemical-filled band-aids used to mask odors. Make your own with ease: add 25 drops of your favorite essential oil to 16 ounces of water, put in a spray bottle, and voila – fresh, pure, natural smelling indoor air!

And don’t forget about hydrosol - it’s less concentrated than essential oil, but equally aromatherapeutic!

Our sense of smell impacts our daily perceptions and our reactions to what’s going on around us – physically, emotionally and mentally. Infusing your home with healing scents is a great way to boost your mood and keep you centered.  Now take one big beautiful breath, and enjoy!

1Perscription for or Nutritional Healing, Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

Posted on March 1, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

A Sea of Bodily Love: Sponges & Loofahs

We hope by now you’re treating yourself to at least one relaxing, aromatherapeutic bath a week that’s:

• Good for the earth: the non-toxic ingredients in organic bath and beauty products don’t wind up in our water streams.
• Great for your body: by making smart choices about the products you put on your skin, you’re investing your health.

Now it’s time to think about transporting all the nutrient-rich soaps, sea salts, scrubs and more available from Napa Valley Bath in the most eco-conscious way…

Sea and Be Seen

Opt for sea sponges versus synthetic sponges, which are typically made from petrochemicals.

For thousands of years, people have been cleansing themselves with multi-celled sea sponges. Sea sponges live in almost every aquatic environment, filtering nutrients from the water through their pores.

Real sea sponges:

• Are a non-endangered species, so they are greener alternative to synthetic sponges
• Regenerate, so there’s no worries about over-harvesting
• Hold a greater amount of water
• Biodegrade, so there’s no waste

So ditch that pink, plasticized pouf hanging in your shower – your green bath is truly sea sponge-worthy!

Love Your Loofah

Did you know that a loofah is a dried plant related to the squash family?  Loofah sponges can be used every day to:

• Give a boost to your circulatory system
• Cleanse and exfoliate your skin
• Help prevent cellulite build-up

Make sure that any loofah you buy is organically-grown and unbleached. In a DIY mood? Harvest your own!

Posted on February 18, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Groom Your NVI (Napa Valley Intelligentsia)

Napa Valley conjures fields of lavender, sweeping vineyards and abundant olive trees.  But how much do you really know about Napa?

It’s time to ramp up on your Napa Valley dinner party parlance…

• Napa Valley is 30 miles long; its regions include American Canyon, Napa, Lake Berryessa, Yountville, Oakville/Rutherford, St. Helena, and Calistoga.

• In addition to its famous grapes, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables thrive in Napa including oranges, prunes, apples, olives and more.

• The Napa Valley is a name derived from the language of the area’s native Wappo Indians and has come to mean “land of plenty.”

• The Wappo Indians had no written language. They shared their ideas, stories, and feelings by speaking only. Stories and customs were passes down by parents to their children.

• 1823 marks the first written description of Napa. Word spread of the region’s abundance, and by the late 1840s, quicksilver mines and lumber mills had set up shop.

• Steamships ferried people from San Francisco, and the railroad carried tourists seeking the healing waters of Calistoga.

• Tough times did darken Napa’s sunny days:  Napa’s famous Silverado mine dried up in 1875, a grapevine disease in 1893 killed off most of the vines, and prohibition shut down most wineries altogether in 1920.

• In 1968, California’s first Agricultural Preserve was created. This zoning ordinance established agriculture and open space as the “best use” for the land within Napa County. Known as the “Ag Preserve,” it’s an agricultural model followed by many others today.

Now uncork one of Napa Valley’s hundreds of wines, start simmering the sauce, and over artisan bread dipped in the local extra virgin olive oil, enjoy a northern California-style dinner peppered with Napa Valley love and lore.

Posted on May 17, 2009 - by nvbath

A Natural Source

Nature is my main source of  inspiration….

when I become aware of the beauty of the natural things around me….

my mood changes.

Nature is a powerful source…and it is abundant….

look up at the sky….

or out in the field…..

or at the weed growing out of the cement crack….

wherever you are, you have access to a natural source.

The next time you find yourself in a funk….

LOOK…no I mean really LOOK….

and meditate on something that Mother Nature has given you….

and if you truly hold still….and connect…you will be rejuvenated.