Russell Simmons Named 2011 PETA Person of the Year

Posted on by Tammy

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) named hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons, its 2011 Person of the Year. Simmons, who has graced the cover of Elevated Existence twice, joins previous winners, Oprah, Ellen Degeneres and Former President Clinton.

Known for his daily practice of both yoga and Transcendental Meditation, Simmons is a devoted vegan who only eats plant-based products, and has done so for at least 10 years, according to an article on GlobalGrind.com.

“The horrible abuse of animals is the worst karmic disaster in the history of human kind,” Simmons said as he accepted the award. “The work that PETA does to combat this catastrophe is amazing. I’m truly humbled to be chosen as this year’s Person of the Year, but the praise should go to the hundreds of thousands of volunteers that are on the ground doing the work. I accept this honor on their behalf.”

Simmons will also be featured in PETA’s limited-edition sheet of U.S. postage PhotoStamps showing vegetarians throughout history, according to Global Grind.

Congratulations Russell Simmons!! For more information, visit www.peta.org.

To preview the past issues of Elevated Existence featuring Russell Simmons, visit our Archives section.

New Essential Oils Line by Cleopatra’s Choice

Posted on by Tammy

Whether inhaling the fragrance or applying it on different points of the body, essential oils have been used for centuries to sooth the mind, body and spirit. Cleopatra’s Choice, a company known for their all-natural ingredients and skin care products including dead sea bath salts, dead sea mud soap and 100-percent, organic shea butter, recently added a line of essential oils.

“Aromatherapy has long been used to treat everything from congestion to anxiety,” said Alex Keyan, CEO of Cleopatra’s Choice. “Our customers are serious about using natural ways of improving their lives and the essential oil line fits that perfectly. The difference this time is the pampering is a mind-body experience.”

The new line includes a variety of products such as Lavender oil (known to calm the body and mind; Tee Tree oil, often used an antibacterial and antifungal treatment; and Peppermint oil, an energizing fragrance that can help with congestion or sore muscles.

For more on the essential oils and other products from Cleopatra’s Choice, visit www.cleopatraschoice.com.

EOS Organic Lip Balm

Posted on by Tammy

It may look like an odd-shaped egg, but EOS (which stands for Evolution of Smooth) lip balm is a lot of fun – and a treat for your lips! Not only is it all-natural, but it is also 95 percent organic, and made with shea butter, vitamin E and jojoba oil. What is doesn’t include is gluten, parabens, petroleum or phthalates! And it goes on completely clear, no matter what flavor.

Flavors include summer fruit, lemon drop (with an SPF 15), strawberry sorbet, honeysuckle honeydew, medicated tangerine and sweet mint – and the sweet mint makes your lips tingle!

We recently picked up the Holiday 3-pack to test it out in the office, and we all agree it’s ideal for a nighttime treatment because it really lasts!

The company also makes the lip balm in a stick, and recently added hand cream and body lotion to its line-up. Check out more at www.evolutionofsmooth.com.

Dr. Oz Talks Salt Therapy

Posted on by Tammy

In case you didn’t know, salt is for so much more than food! In a recent episode of The Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Oz featured a few all-natural health remedies using salt.

For example, using a salt inhaler can help with sinus allergies and asthma, as well as treating a cold or flu. And for people suffering from dry skin or even psoriasis, Dr. Oz recommended a salt bath. By adding a half cup of sea salts and a half cup of colloidal oatmeal to a bath, it can both hydrate the skin and decrease inflammation.

Thanks Dr. Oz!

How to Make Homemade, All Natural Sugar Scrub

Posted on by Tammy

We all know those high-end brands that charge between $25 and $60 for a good sugar or salt scrub – but why not make your own? This way you know what ingredients are included (and can pronounce them!), and you can save some money too! Five jars can be made for less than $15, according to an article in the Orange County Register.

The article explains how to make a homemade sugar scrub – which is much less abrasive than a salt variety. The best part is there are only two main ingredients – sugar and oil! Brown sugar is suggested for those with sensitive skin because it is much softer than granulated, and for those who prefer a coarser texture, raw sugar is the best choice.

When it comes to the oil, it’s up to you! Almond oil, coconut oil, baby oil, avocado oil and even olive oil can be used. To add a scent, drop in some essential oils, and for extra skin benefits, add in a teaspoon of honey.

So what’s the recipe? It comes down to one part oil and two parts sugar, according to the article.

1. Place the sugar in a glass bowl and slowly stir in the oil with a wooden stick. The mixture will look lumpy and a dry, but it should, so don’t add more oil! Here is where you can add a few drops of essential oil, or lemon zest, according to the report.
2. Fill a glass jar with the scrub and screw the lid on tightly.

That’s it! And it’s a great gift idea too!

The Many Benefits of Lavender

Posted on by Tammy

The uses of lavender oil are seemingly endless, and thanks to a recent study reported in the September 17 edition of “The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine,” we can add a new one to the list! It has been proven that breathing in the aroma of lavender oil can reduce the stress and pain caused by inserting needles into the skin, according to a Fox News report.

Native to the mountains of the Mediterranean basin, lavender is cultivated widely throughout Europe, the U.S. and Australia, and was used widely as an antiseptic in Greek, Roman and Arabian medicines, the Fox News report stated. The name lavender is actually derived from the Latin “lavar,” which means to wash, and early Romans used lavender to scent baths and on floors to fragrance a room, while King Charles VI of France actually required a lavender pillow wherever he slept.

Dr. James Duke, in his best-selling book “The Green Pharmacy,” recommends regarding lavender in cases of amenorrhea (loss of menstruation), burns, carpal tunnel syndrome, insomnia, pain, psoriasis and vaginitis, the report stated. Also, in Germany, the Commission E, which regulates herbal remedies, supports its use for restlessness, insomnia, and nervous stomach and intestinal complaints, according to Fox News.

Some other common uses for lavender oil include:

– Soaking in a bath with Epsom salts and lavender oil to sooth sore muscles and pain.
– Add a few drops to face cream to help kill bacteria that causes acne.
– After running cold water on a minor burn, apply lavender oil for the pain and to eliminate scarring.
– Add two drops (along with two drops of thyme oil to bowl of near-steaming water an inhale slowly for help with sinusitis.
– Spray a lavender mist to help calm stress and anxiety.
– Spraying pure lavender mist onto sunburn can help with the pain and stinging.
– Pour boiling water over ne teaspoon of fresh or dried lavender flowers to make a tea that will calm the nerves, settle a nervous stomach or induce sleep.