These days, there’s a product for everything. Even for your teeth! Toothpaste, tooth gel, tooth cream and every type of whitener you can imagine. Variety is great! But it comes at a cost  — to you and Mother Earth. This vast array of products means a whole lot of production, and a whole lot of bottles — often not recyclable.

What is a multipurpose product?

Multi-functional products are the opposite of specialists. While for some years, the trend was to use a different item for every aspect of personal care, savvy and conscious consumers are now looking for products that are great multi-taskers. Using one high-quality multipurpose product for body and face, for example, saves cost and uses fewer precious resources than buying a different cream for the eyes, neck, elbows, legs and feet!  

Natural products, naturally multipurpose

Using organic, natural ingredients offers more scope when creating multi-functional products. It is certainly not an easy to task making sure that each constituent works in synergy with all the other natural ingredients, but botanicals, such as organic essential oils, naturally have many different purposes. Peppermint essential oil, for example, is antibacterial, clears the mind and soothes nausea.

Oral Botanica as Your First Aid Kit

Oral Botanica is truly multi-functional. As chemists with years of experience in the industry we saw how many unnecessary products were developed. So, we were already thinking about multi-functional products when we created Oral Botanica Classic as a three-in-one product: a toothpaste, mouthwash and breath freshener. One bottle lasts up to three months, so it significantly cuts waste and eliminates the need for multiple oral care products. And, on top of protecting your teeth and gums, we also have many additional tips on how you can use Oral Botanica as your very own first aid kit in a bottle.  

Healing much more than your teeth – 9 new ways to use Oral Botanica

We didn’t want to keep these tips to ourselves, so here are Oral Botanica Classic’s unexpected healing secrets:   1. Sore throats Add 1 drop to your tea or water. You can also add a few drops to warm water and gargle.   2. Dry coughs Add a few drops to warm water and drink or gargle.   3. Cuts and scrapes Place a few drops on a wound to stop bleeding.   4. Headache Massage gently into your temples (avoid the eyes).   5. Mosquito bites Dab a drop on the bite to reduce the itch.   6. Tummy ache: Apply a few drops on your tummy.   7. Stuffy nose Rub a few drops on your chest to clear congestion.   8. Stiff neck Gently massage a few drops into the neck area. 9. Mouth Ulcers Put a drop of Oral Botanica Classic directly on the sore spot.   Now that you know Oral Botanica can be used as an all-purpose remedy, it’s a good idea to always keep a bottle in your bag — like a portable personal pharmacy. Consumers’ growing demand for thoughtful and earth-friendly products may require a change of gear for profit-driven businesses. They’ve often been used to dreaming up unnecessary solutions to imagined problems. More and more though, this approach won’t fly with aware and educated consumers. Creating multi-functional products was our goal long before it became a trend and we look forward to discovering more and more functions and purposes for Botanica Culture creations with you.

Frankincense. Even the name sounds exotic. If you performed in a Christmas nativity play as a kid, you’ll definitely recall that it was one of the gifts the three wise men brought to baby Jesus. So frankincense certainly has a pedigree, and it’s been seen as something special for quite a while indeed.

Why was frankincense given to baby Jesus?

Frankincense is the gummy white sap from a tree with an equally exotic-sounding name, the Boswellia Carterii tree. This gooey stuff may not seem exciting but it has a magical aroma and once it hardens into a resin, it can be scraped off the tree and used as incense or transformed into an essential oil through steam distillation. You can only find Boswellia Carterii trees in the Arabian Peninsula and Northeast Africa, and it takes about ten years for each tree to produce its sap. This precious liquid should only be harvested a couple of times a year, when incisions are made in the bark allowing the sap to bubble out like liquid pearls. This is why for much of history, frankincense was in short supply and high demand — as rare and valuable as gold.  

What was (and is) the big deal about frankincense?

The name frankincense comes from an old French term, franc encens, meaning “high-quality incense” and its fragrant perfume has been used for medicinal, religious and social purposes from as early as 1,500 BC. Frankincense was probably first burned for its antiseptic, insect-repelling qualities but over time its other-worldly fragrance made it ideal for ceremonies: weddings, childbirth and funerals, when pieces of the resin would be burnt. The incense was also used as a hair oil and to sweeten the breath, while soot from the incense burners was used for eye makeup and tattoos. The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus mentions the benefits of frankincense for throat infections and asthmatic attacks, and when King Tut’s 3,000-year-old tomb was opened in 1922, it contained jars of still-fragrant frankincense-infused perfume oil. Frankincense appears in a 6th century Chinese manuscript Mingyi Bielu and is still used in TCM to relieve joint pain and balance emotions. Ayurveda loves frankincense too, here it is used to treat rheumatism and respiratory problems.

What can frankincense do for my skin?

Frankincense is definitely tried and tested, with a 5,000-year track record and solid recommendations from “influencers” like King Tut. But what can it do for us now? Apart from its mystical aroma, frankincense is a skin saviour. This is due to its naturally occurring compounds, including Boswellic acid, which boasts a bounty of benefits for the skin. Studies show that boswellic acid:

• inhibits inflammation in the body, making it a wonderful choice for eczema, burns, bites, rashes and other inflammatory skin conditions
• is wonderful for lymphatic drainage
• is a cicatrizant: it speeds wound healing through the formation of scar tissue
• tones and rejuvenates aging skin
• clears acne
• minimises the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and scars
• displays anti-microbial qualities and can prevent infection and eliminate unwanted bacterial from the skin

Frankincense also delivers a dose of aromatherapy and its woody, comforting fragrance acts on the nervous system to lower stress levels, calm anxiety and promote sleep.

 Nine ways to use frankincense on your skin

Adding fabulous frankincense to your daily skincare routine is a breeze and you’ll soon see the difference. 1. Moisture booster Add a few drops of organic Frankincense essential oil  to your existing moisturiser or body lotion - Use 6 drops of Frankincense essential oil per 30ml for facial products - Use 12 drops of Frankincense essential oil per 60ml for body products 2. To hydrate ageing skin Mix 2 drops of Frankincense oil and 2 drops of Lavender oil  to your regular moisturiser. 3. For spots Add a couple of drops of Frankincense oil to a cotton bud and dab directly onto the spot. 4. To even skin tone and fade age marks Add 2–4 drops of Frankincense oil to a carrier oil (jojoba or almond). Gently rub into the mark. 5. Facial steam Add 3 drops Frankincense oil and 2 drops of Geranium oil to a warm face cloth. Press the cloth on your face for up to 30 seconds and breathe deeply, then wipe your face clean. 6. Frankincense toner Mix Frankincense oil with pure water or witch hazel (6 drops of Frankincense oil per 30ml of water) for a light, uplifting toner and refresher. You can also use this to set your makeup. It is best to use a dark glass spray bottle and shake well before using. 7. Scaly hand soother Add a few drops of Frankincense oil to your hand cream to hydrate and soften rough skin. The scent will add a warm, spicy note to your hand cream. 8. Fingernail balm Apply a drop Frankincense oil on your fingernail and gently massage it into the cuticles and ragged edges of your nails to make them strong and healthy. 9. Skin serum with Frankincense oil Frankincense is one of the eight oils in Derma Botanica No.3, a luxurious skin-nourishing treatment oil blended from 11 botanical oils to replenish and restore moisture to the skin. Derma Botanica No.3 is completely free from synthetic chemicals and revives dull, tired skin, refines texture and restore balances. With just a few drops, your skin will feel so much softer and beautifully supple. Derma Botanica No.3 can be used as a serum, underneath your usual moisturiser, or alone, instead of your daily or nightly cream. Derma Botanica No. 3 is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. The multifunctional formulation is packed with potent antioxidants and antibacterials but is gentle on the skin.

Many people nowadays wonder how to reduce diabetes with home remedies, since diabetes has become a major heath issue across the world. After biting into a tooth-achingly sweet treat, we may joke that this indulgence will give us instant diabetes. Unfortunately, the joke could be on us because diabetes is really no laughing matter.

Diabetes — the problem

Since the mid 1990s, the number of people living with diabetes has increased almost four times, mostly because of the way people eat, move and live. About 422 million people globally have diabetes and it directly causes at least 1.6 million deaths each year. These statistics are rather grim but the good news is that the most common type of diabetes (Type 2) — which accounts for 90 per cent of diabetes cases — is preventable. Why? Because lifestyle factors: a lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking or drinking too much alcohol are the causes of this type of diabetes.

What is diabetes?

Most of us know that diabetes has something to do with having too much sugar in the blood. For Type 1 diabetes, this occurs because our pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, a chemical that regulates blood sugar. For Type 2 Diabetes, unhealthy lifestyle choices cause our bodies to become resistant to insulin or to not produce enough of it, so our blood sugar soars. The scary part about diabetes is that this sugary blood can lead to serious health issues. It is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and stroke. Diabetes can also affect blood circulation, which may then cause foot ulcers. These can be difficult to treat and sometimes lead to lower limb amputation.

Can diabetes be cured?

We can prevent diabetes at the pre-diabetes stage, when blood sugar levels are slightly elevated. With exercise, a healthy diet and weight loss, one-third of pre-diabetics can revert to normal glucose levels. And for those who already have diabetes, medication and insulin can treat the condition. There’s also a lot of interest in alternative and complementary medicines that can lower blood sugar levels and treat diabetes. Black Seed oil is one medicinal ingredient that looks very promising and effective.

What is Black Seed Oil?

Black Seed oil is from the seeds of the Nigella sativa, a small plant with pale purple, blue or white flowers. It grows in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and the Middle East. Kalonji, black cumin or black caraway are other names for Black Seed. The plant has been grown for more than 3,000 years and ancient Egyptians even used it as a remedy. In fact, black seeds were found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. At that time, people prized Black Seed oil as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. They also used it as a digestive aid to treat colds, headaches, toothache and infections. Even the Prophet Mohammed praised it, saying “Black seed heals every disease except for death.” Cooks across the Middle East and India. have also used both Black Seed oil and the seeds for millennia to spice up their dishes.

Is Black Seed oil really such a miracle ingredient?

Containing more than 100 known chemical compounds, Black Seed oil is bursting with health benefits. It contains a complex blend of ingredients, some with tongue twisting names: thymoquinone (TQ) thymohydroquinone (THQ), nigellone, chlorophyll and lignan, as well as omega 3-6-9, minerals, proteins and amino acids and calcium, folic acid, copper, zinc and B vitamins. These work in tandem to make it just like a turbo-boosted multi-vitamin for total wellness. Its main super-compound is thymoquinone, which is hard to spell but good to remember. It has definite antioxidant properties and holds promise for preventing and treating asthma, blood pressure, and even certain cancers. The huge array of health-giving compounds in Black Seed oil means that it can be used to treat a diverse range of issues. It benefits the respiratory system, immunity, circulation and digestion. More recently, it has also been used to successfully treat asthma, allergies and skin conditions ranging from acne to psoriasis.

How to reduce Diabetes with home remedies: Black Seed oil

Extensive research shows that Black seed oil is highly effective in increasing the body’s immunity and decreasing inflammation. There has also been specific research into its effects on diabetes : A review  of research in Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2015) showed that taking Black Seed oil can improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. It may also improve cholesterol levels. A 2016 overview in the British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, indicated that Black Seed oil enhances insulin production and glucose tolerance. It also concluded that the seeds can play a significant role in the treatment of diabetes complications. These can include neuropathy, or numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, and narrowing of the arteries. A 2017 study found that over time black cumin seed oil reduced HbA1c — the average blood glucose level. This review considered both animal and human studies. It found that Black Seed oil and its compound thymoquinone increased insulin levels, decreased insulin resistance and decreased glucose absorption in the intestines.  

What is Activated Black Seed oil?

Activated Black Seed oil, from Botanica Culture, turbo charges the benefits of black seeds by adding four more superfood ingredients. This blend is a unique, carefully researched formulation which adds additional powerful oils to black seed oil. This creates the perfect blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9, which you can’t get from black seed oil on its own. The blend includes Oregano oil to boost ABS’ antibacterial and antiviral effects. Lemon oil works to detoxify the liver. The formulation also includes rare Styrian pumpkin seed oil, made by preserving hull-less pumpkin seeds. This ingredient has numerous benefits for the heart, skin, brain and prostate. It also contains high levels of cholesterol-fighting phytosterols. Activated Black Seed oil is a targeted mix of omega fatty acids, proteins and vitamins that significantly reduce inflammation — the body’s worst enemy.

How to reduce Diabetes with home remedies: Black Seed oil

To use Activated Black Seed oil for diabetes, take 1 teaspoon internally in the morning on an empty stomach. Check first with your doctor before taking Black Seed oil for diabetes. The oil may slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. If you have a bleeding disorder or are taking medication that affects blood clotting, Black Seed oil is not for you. Stop taking black seed oil at least two weeks before surgery. Pregnant women (or women trying to become pregnant) and those breastfeeding shouldn't use black seed oil. Treating diabetes holistically The World Health Organisation is tackling and treating diabetes through early diagnosis and lifestyle changes. A healthy diet, exercise and stress relief can definitely keep diabetes at bay. Active interventions: prescribing insulin, oral medication, blood pressure control and foot care to prevent ulcers are also helpful. Black Seed oil brings a tried and trusted remedy from the past (even good enough for King Tut) to the growing demand for more holistic, natural treatments. It is the perfect addition to existing diabetes treatment options. By helping to prevent some of the fatal complications that can occur with diabetes, perhaps Black Seed oil may even become the oil that can heal everything, including death itself.