Chinese Medicine transition support for springtime metabolism, hormones, and more!

It’s springtime and there are transformations happening all around us as life and the synergy beneath us is undergoing a process of awakening and renewal. Most of us identify spring as uplifting with freshness, but forget this is the season that has a considerable impact on our mind, body and emotions.   According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is represented by the wind element and it is that time of the year when our body is most susceptible to wind-cold imbalances that mostly affect the liver and gall bladder. Problems like depression, hepatitis and vernal catarrh (allergic conjunctivitis or ‘pink eye’) are believed to stem from these imbalances.   The liver is the primary cleansing and detoxifying organ of the body that regulates blood circulation, hormones, metabolism, digestion and subsequently our emotions too. In women, it may affect the menstrual cycle and reproductive health. The function of the gall bladder is to secrete bile and assist the liver in all its functions to ensure the smooth flow of energy throughout the body. Experts believe that the health of the liver and gall bladder can affect our decision-making abilities and have an impact on the quality of life.   TCM also theorizes that anger and depression are the dominant emotions during spring that are increased by rapid changes in the weather, environment and length of the days. These changes interfere with the levels of the hormone melatonin in our body resulting in mood swings and temper problems. You may be suffering from an imbalance if you experience one or more of the following signs and symptoms: Dry, watery or itchy eyes Inadequate sleep or disturbed sleep patterns Irregular bowel movement A feeling of fullness or bloating Chest congestion Menstrual irregularities or severe PMS symptoms Mild to severe depression Anger Frequent emotional outbursts and restlessness Aim in strengthening your immunity, purging the body of toxins and maintaining emotional balance. Essential oils can help achieve this goal. Here are some essential oils that are perfect for the season: DETOXING AND PURIFICATION: Massage Kasia Foritfy Body Oil all over your body once a day! Here is why this fantastic massage oil works: Lavender and Lemongrass Essential Oils promote lymphatic drainage, improve circulation and release excess fluids and toxins. This takes care of any water retention and you feel lighter and more energized. Add some Orange Essential Oil around the stomach region and  enhance the function of the liver, encourages the flow of bile and aids fat metabolism. HORMONAL IMBALANCES: Geranium Essential Oil supports the adrenal cortex and helps take care of hormonal imbalances. Clary Sage Essential Oil has a calming effect on the mind and alleviates depression and irritability during PMS. Lavender Essential Oil helps to maintain a positive state of mind and keep your mood cheerful and upbeat. Learn more about Kasia Essential Oils HERE

Chemical Deodorants - They're the Pits

Kasia Organics-  Pure-odorant - Organic & Chemical-Free Deodorant

Minneapolis' leading and only true organic beauty salon, showcases TOP-SELLING  Pure-odorant, a chemical-free and certified organic line of women's deodorant. One of the most overlooked beauty products, in terms of its affect on your body, is deodorant. Often times, the general public is mislead or simply not informed of the health affects that can come with wearing "mainstream" deodorants. Pure-odorant comes straight from nature with a pure blend of organic hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that soften skin and eliminate odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours.

Deodorants have become a part of everyday life for almost all of us. Antiperspirant deodorant is extremely common among women ... and unfortunately, so is breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Most commercial brands of antiperspirants and deodorants contain either aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. These compounds are very soluble and are readily absorbed by the body. Once in the body, the aluminum portion of the molecule ionizes, forming free radical aluminum, which passes freely across cell membranes and forms a physical plug, that when dissolved is selectively absorbed by the liver, kidney, brain, cartilage and bone marrow.

New evidence to be published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology indicates that parabens, chemicals found in underarm cosmetics and other products, can be detected in human breast tumors. Previous suggestions have been made that certain components of underarm cosmetics may contribute to the rising incidence of breast cancer. Even women that wear no makeup, lip gloss or hair products invariably use deodorant products - body odor is seen as one of the seven deadly sins, whether you’re at the office or out with friends! This 'essential' part of our beauty routines may have serious health consequences for us down the track.

Ingredients to avoid in deodorants

While aluminium is the main deodorant/antiperspirant ingredient that has been studied for negative health effects, almost all of the common ingredients in supermarket deodorants are harmful to us. Here are the effects of some of the common underarm 'hygiene' ingredients:

* Aluminium chlorhydrate, aluminium zirconium tetrachlorhydrex gly, and other aluminium salts: We talked about the links between aluminium salts and breast cancer, as well as  Alzheimer's disease. There may be further links to disease that haven't yet been identified.

* Parabens (all types): These are derived from toluene, which can both cause reproductive harm and mimic the effect of estrogen in the body, driving the growth of cancerous cells.

* Triclosan: This ingredient is a common antibacterial which cause contact dermatitis in many people, and is classified as a pesticide by the FDA.

* Talc: Even the humble talcum powder has been regarded with suspicion by cancer researchers. It may contain asbestiform fibers (yes, these are related to asbestos) - the level of asbestiform fibers in talc is unregulated.

* Propylene glycol: According to the NIOSH this is a neurotoxin. The EPA admits that it hasn’t been fully investigated for cancer-causing potential, despite being in almost every personal care product on the market.

* Silica: This skin irritant is often contaminated with crystalline quartz, which is known to cause cancer

* Steareth-n: (Where n is any number) reacts with ethylene oxide in the manufacturing process. Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen.

Enter, Kasia Pure-oderant

 

Certified Organic made with a pure blend of hemp oil, aloe vera and mineral salts that softens skin and eliminates odor-causing bacteria for up to 24 hours!

 

NO aluminum, alcohol, parabens or proplyene glycol — NO residue.

Scented with organic essential oils.

* effective using hemp oil and mineral salts that eliminate odor-causing bacteria

* soothing and healing aloe vera to softens the skin

* no aluminum chlorhydrate; no alcohol

* No tingly irritation and no staining

* We’re sure, it leaves no white residue

* hypoallergenic

* no harmful propellants, pit and ozone friendly

* no animal testing, just on hunks * no pore clogging, breathe!

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Purified water, potassium alum (mineral salts), polyquaternium-10, organic hyssopus officinalis (hyssop) extract, certified organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) extract, certified organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) oil, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader in, and advocate for, natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia Organic Salon, Kassie combines her experience as nutritionist and living foods educator with her ongoing Functional Medicine research to apply a whole of body “Beautiful Health’ approach to hair care and styling. Become an Informed Beauty and learn more at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

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Last Minute Holiday Special!

1.)  Yuletide in our last minute 10% OFF KasiaHoliday Special on our NEW Products!!

2.)  Schedule a Color / Cut last mintue and receive 15% OFF! (Layne, Chelsea, and Mackenzie)

*NEW  HUGE 7oz Hand Blended Soaps ("yes...real chocolate") *NEW Bath and Body Polish ...exfoliate *NEW   So-luxe Bath and Body Oil ...infused with Arnica and moisture. Throw out your lotions!

Naturally -  Polish your Skin

Kasia Body Polish Combo's

FORTIFY  Lavender & Lemongrass

Enliven    Bergamot & Lime

Nature at it’s best, guaranteed to make your bath or shower an extraordinary aromatic experience.

Exfoliation is the key to keeping your skin refreshed and renewed.

Kasia’a Polish removes dead skin cells and helps improve blood circulation, while promoting cell renewal.

Bring the spa home with Kasia Body Polish made with moisturizing infused ingredients made by nature.   Our body polish can be used in either the tub or shower to improve, refine, brighten, clean and detoxify the skin. We didn’t forget  ruminating pure  essential oils that help rejuvenate skin while providing relaxing or uplifting aromatic experience.

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Silky So-Lux Beauty Oil

Kasia Body Oil Combo's

Harmonize Rose Geranium

Fortify Lavender and Lemongrass

100% natural and infused body oils.   Complete your bathing ritual with GRACE and grease-free  while you infuse your newly exfoliated skin (“mmmm”….Kasia Body Salt Scrubs…)  adding  moisture,  vitamins, and plant oil bliss deep into your skin.

Rituals for all!  Great for a sweetheart massage, add to your bath or keep it in your shower for after you lather! The oils molecular weight will penetrate easily with freshly cleansed skin and open pores with a  long lasting scent. I can hear your skin saying it now….” I love you!”

Wash your troubles away with our lasting BIG BAR!

 Scent Blends 

 Clove and Oatmeal Vanilla    Clove   Bergamot Litsea  Peppermint Mints n’ Cocoa-     Peppermint      Spearment        Cocoa Absolute

Lavish in our  Au-Naturale  handmade  artisan soaps  imparted with scent and healing properties of nature into every HUGE 7 oz bar.

Leave as fresh as it feels when you walk into Kasia Organic Salon…..FRESH  and EUPHORIC…..  We encourage our guests and friends to be empowered through  their personal awareness and self-love by experiencing their own favorite REAL scents for the hair and body to carry them throughout their week.

BIG BAR Soaps **NEW & Handmade

Lavish in our  Au-Naturale  handmade  artisan soaps  imparted withscent and healing properties of nature into every HUGE 7 oz bar.

Wash your troubles away with our lasting BIG BAR!

Leave as fresh as it feels when you walk into Kasia Organic Salon.....FRESH  and EUPHORIC.....  We encourage our guests and friends to be empowered through  their personal awareness and self-love by experiencing their own favorite REAL scents for the hair and body to carry them throughout their week.

 Scent Blends 

 Clove and Oatmeal Vanilla    Clove   Bergamot Litsea  Peppermint Mints n' Cocoa-     Peppermint      Spearment        Cocoa Absolute

 

Made by nature:

Avocado oil Organic Hempseed oil Coconut oil Italian Olive oil Wildcrafted Shea butter Palm oil Plant infusions Pure Essential Oils

Our Promise:  Our natural soaps are crafted using natural herbs, nutrients, and natural exfoliants with 100% pure essential oils. These completely handmade natural soaps contain no artificial colors or fragrances.

Feel the LOVE.....

Our bodies interpret Our 100% pure essential oils and synthetic fragrances (the nasty boy's) differently.  Mother Nature's output will communicate through our nervous systems, bridging soothing  eucalyptus to your eyes, lemon to your stomach, and clove t your heart, etc.  Experience the  CAUSE & EFFECT  of your unique DNA.   Can you feel it?

Not your average BAR, Kasia's handmade specialty is cut into a HUGE 7 oz. indulgence.   Warning: Husband and kids are to be questioned if your BIG BAR is no where to be found.

Favorite essential oils to cleanse and refresh your hair and scalp...

  Our team at Kasia Organic Salon LOVE essential oils.  We use them in hair and skin treatments, as well as infuse our air with our high powered differ for essential oils.  Clients rave about their purchased diffuser and oils .... Essential oils naturally help to balance the skin's oils, cleanse and refresh hair and scalp. They work like a tonic and promote shiny hair. All Kasia Hair Care products have an infusion of an apothecary and helpful essential oils for the hair.

Here are some great essential oils for hair care:

Bergamot Citrus bergamia is uplifting, refreshing, astringent and regulating. Use for most hair types.

Clary Sage Salvia sclarea is balancing (helps to balance sebum), calming and regulating. Use for most hair types especially dry and oily.

Lavender Lavendula angustifolia is calming, relaxing and regenerative. Use for most hair types.

Lemon Citrus limon is soothing and uplifting. Lemon is cleansing, astringent and a skin tonic. Use for most hair types especially oily and light color hair.

Litsea Cubeba litsea cubeba is cleansing and a skin tonic. Use for most hair types and oily hair.

Orange, Sweet Citrus sinensis is uplifting, soothing, calming, balancing (sebum) and regenerative. Use for most hair types.

Peppermint Mentha x piperita is stimulating and increases circulation of the scalp. Use for most hair types and prevention of hair loss and dull hair. Precaution: Keep away from eyes.

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis cineol is invigorating and stimulating. Use for most hair types and prevention of hair loss.

Tip Using Essential Oils For Hair Care 1. Apply 1-2 drops essential oil onto your brush and brush your hair. Not only will your hair smell nice, the essential oils will also promote smooth and shiny hair.

Visit Kasiaorganicsalon.com to learn more about essential oils.  Essential oils are available to purchase online.

Reference:  Joan Morais

Protect, shine, and get 'Off the Fritz" with our newest creation!

 Promoting good hair days and getting "Off the Fritz"

96%  Organic   *  Hair Sealer    *    Heat Protection

Enjoy Kasia's version of "Shea Spray"  --  As a #1 products suggestion for all of our  hair color beauties, we've gone the extra mile, got in the lab, and now promote "Off the Fritz" to all our Informed Beaute's healthy locks!

Protect your hair from heat damage, frizz, coloring, and environmental pollution.  Kasia's "Off the Fritz" Sealer is weightless while infusing individual strands with nutrients vital to healthy hair and prolonged color.

Antioxidants and Vitamin B5 protect hair and promote shine. And avocado, shea, and neem, a healing agent, promotes long-lasting hydration and helps seal the cuticle layer to prevent frizz and encourage healthier hair and scalp.

96% ORGANIC, free of petrochemicals, parabens, synthetics, and colors. Ideal for colored hair and suitable for all hair types.  We use simple “beautiful health” ingredients and 100% pure essential oils you can trust with your hair and body and safe for the whole family.

 Key Ingredients in-depth:

Kasia has raised the standard by using  organic Aloe Vera as our product base, most companies use water.  Aloe is rich in over 200 active minerals, vitamins, and nutrients.

Neem oil relieves dry and itchy scalp, dandruff, the symptoms psoriasis, as and gives you silky, shiny, stronger hair while encouraging growth.

Shea provides UV protection, is high in vitamins A & E, and soothes.

Avocado oil fortifies hair and infuses it with nutrients, resulting in stronger, longer hair. Avocados are high in vitamins A, B, C, E and K, protein, fatty acids and amino acids.

Essential Oils Used: Rosemary, Neem, and Rosewood.

Designed to protect, preserve and promote healthy color treated, damaged and every day hair.  Weightless shine, rich antioxidants, environmental and UV protection, anti-humidity, minimizes frizz, thermal protection, control and manageability, seals and protects the hair, and locks in moisture.

Directions: Pray onto clean, wet hair and blow-dry to eliminate frizz, or spray onto dry hair for a quick fix and extra shine.   Avoid eye contact.

Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ricinus communis (Castor Seed) Oil, Stearalkonium Chloride, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Vegetable Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, dl-Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Limnanthes alba (Meadowfoam) Oil, Butyrospermun parkii (Shea) Oil, Persea americana (Avocado) Oil, Salix nigra (Black Willow Bark) Extract, Ascophyllum nodosum (Kelp) Extract, Rosmarinus officnalis (Rosemary Oleoresin), Azadirachta indica (Neem) Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Essential Oil

Is your expensive fragrance good for you?

Perfume must be the most ironic of gifts: Perfect pretty little bottles with perfect pretty little names, filled with sweet smelling petrochemicals(yes, you read right). Did you know that 95 percent of the chemicals used in perfume are derived from petroleum, many of them quite toxic? Great!

For 2010 you can give a gift that triggers delight, not rashes and asthma.

You’d think that perfume would be made from what it smells like. A scent that creates the beautiful image of lilies must be made from lilies, right? Wrong.

Modern perfumes are almost always made from synthetic fragrances that are most commonly synthesized from petroleum distillates.

In the late 19th century the first synthetic fragrance was created (from coal-tar) in a laboratory. Not only did this greatly expand the perfumer’s repertory of scents to work with, but it also democratized the availability of perfume by making it so much cheaper to produce. Very costly raw natural materials (like ambergris, musk and rare botanicals) that had been used to create luxury perfumes were now simply whipped up in the lab using dredged waste by-products of the industrial revolution.

It also allowed for the creation of scents that perfumers were unable to capture before–such as the smell of lilac and lily.

The science of fragrance is really rather mind-boggling.

The fact petrochemicals can be manipulated into rapturous scent is an illusion worthy of Houdini. But magic aside, a 1991 study performed by the EPA found that numerous potentially hazardous chemicals are commonly used in fragrance, including acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, and methylene chloride.

According to Material Data Safety Sheets, when inhaled these chemicals can cause central nervous system disorders, dizziness, nausea, slurred speech, drowsiness, irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, and lungs, kidney damage, headache, respiratory failure, ataxia, and fatigue, among other things.

Another study found two groups of hazardous or potentially hazardous chemicals commonly used in perfumes: phthalates and synthetic musks.

Since perfumes are applied to the skin, repeated exposure of relatively concentrated doses may contribute substantially to our overall exposure to these chemicals. And because of the high-volume use of these chemicals, they have become widely distributed through both the natural and the urban environment-endangering natural ecosytems while also further increasing our exposure to them.

The FDA does little to regulate the cosmetics industry, and “fragrance” is considered a trade secret and thus ingredient disclosure is not required. Only a handful of ingredients are banned and personal care products and cosmetics do not require approval or testing before hitting the shelves.

Even so, according to the FDA fragrances are responsible for 30 percent of all allergic reactions. Many point to perfume as a very high-risk cosmetic product for those who suffer from asthma. And we always thought that perfume was supposed to make us feel good.

The good news is that there is an alternative–good old perfume made from natural materials.

You won’t find herbs, grasses, flowers and spice on any EPA lists. Not only are natural perfume ingredients more in harmony with the body, but they are, well, natural.

Kasia Organic Salon looks to offer pure and plant "fumes" into the new year.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/good-scents-natural-perfume.html

What can you do about Head Lice?

As we approach another school year, it's better to be safe than sorry  when  the school nurse calls you – your child  have been diagnosed with a case of head lice.Once lice are found your children may not be able to return to school until you have a treatment well at hand. Many parents don’t want to expose their children repeatedly to the toxic chemicals found in the over the counter treatments.   We have many mothers call the salon, and we'd like to post some help to find a option that can repel these intruders. One can use in the hair each time before they shampoo and also for something to apply to the hair in between.

The references for essential oils that work against lice both the live bugs and their eggs aka nits suggested using a blend that may include any of the following essential oils: Tea Tree, Lavender, Anise, Cinnamon Leaf, Oregano, Eucalyptus Globulus, Thyme, Cloves and Peppermint.

Other oils that may also work include: Bergamot, Spearmint, Naiouli, Marjoram, Petitgrain, Pennyroyal, Ravensara, Roman chamomile, Eucalyptus Citriodora, Clary sage, Jasmine, Lemongrass, Rosemary, and Ylang-ylang.

Several recipes suggested the use of Tea Tree. As in studies it was found that Tea Tree was able to kill both the adults and penetrate the egg shell and kill the yet un-hatched eggs by itself at about 83-93%. Another essential oil Oregano showed 100% kill of both adults and eggs. Two other essential oils, Anise and Cinnamon leaf, had high kill rates too. Below is a Basic Lice Blend that can be used to help kill and repel these unwelcome hair and scalp guests. Follow the suggestions for a Pre-shampoo treatment, Post-Shampoo, and a Hair Spray to help repel and prevent future infestations.

Basic Lice Blend

Tea Tree – 10 drops Lavender – 10 drops Oregano – 5 drops Peppermint – 5 drops Cinnamon – 5 drops

Blend in an amber bottle. You may want to double or triple this basic recipe to make it easier for use.

Step one Mix 1 ounce of Jojoba with 7-8 drops of the above blend. Massage into and on the hair. Leave in the hair wrapped in a towel for 1-2 hours. Shampoo hair, do not dry.

Step two Mix ¼ cup water with ¼ cup vinegar, add 7-8 drops of the above Basic Lice blend. Shake well, then rinse the hair with this. Do NOT rinse with water. Comb the hair out thoroughly using a ‘nit’ comb (available at most pharmacy’s). Rinse or wipe the comb to remove debris, dead lice and nits between combing strokes. The vinegar helps to remove the glue that holds the eggs to the hair shafts. After combing thoroughly, let the hair dry.

Step three The day after the shampoo, rinse and combing - Spray on the following - To 8 ounces of our Body spray OR distilled water add 10 drops of the basic lice blend. Spray on the hair once daily between shampooing. If desired increase the Lavender to make the blend more pleasant for use as a hair spray. A light spray misting is all that is necessary.

If necessary repeat Steps One and Two every 5 – 7 days for up to 2 weeks. You can continue Step Three as long as desired as this should help to keep the lice away. If irritation develops discontinue use.

Lice biology

• The life cycle of the louse is about 4 weeks. Approximately 8 days are spent in the egg stage, which is the hardest stage to kill. The eggs then hatch into tiny lice (first instar nymphs), then into second and third instars and finally into adults. Female lice are larger than males.
• Lice eggs are opaque. If they are clear, it means the lice have already hatched out.
• Healthy lice and eggs are found only within 1 cm of the scalp. They are transmitted by head-to-head contact, not by combs, brushes or furniture, and neither do they live in school buildings or home carpets.
• Head lice are not a sign of bad hygiene. They prefer clean hair to dirty hair.

Control

• It may take several months for a person to become sensitised to the presence of lice, so when treating the affected person it is also important to check all people who have been in close contact with the person during that time. Look at the roots of the hair for lice, eggs, lice faeces (black specks) and cast skins. Faeces and skins may also be found on pillows of the affected person.
• Treat only those people who show signs of lice.
• Make sure that enough of the treatment product is used, and follow the instructions as to how long to keep it on the hair. Do not leave it on for less than the suggested time.
• Shampoos in general will not kill lice as the solution is too weak by the time the extra water needed for hair-washing has been added. This applies to both conventional lice shampoos and those containing essential oils. It is much better to use an aqueous or alcoholic lotion or a conditioner base.
• Comb the hair well afterwards to remove dead and dying lice.
• Repeat the treatment after a week, unless told otherwise.
• If the protocol states that the procedure should be repeated every 2 days, or even more often, this implies that the treatment is not effective on lice eggs.

Reference:   Birch Hill Happenings Aromatherapy, LLC