Natural Health Focus

There are conkers everywhere! Did you know you can use them to replace toxic laundry detergent?
Take 5 conkers, smash then up with a hammer and soak overnight in a cup of boiling water. Strain the bits out and use the liquid in your next wash.
You can dry conkers to keep , never buy detergent again!

Did you know that bees aren't just buzzing around making honey? They're also busy crafting something called propolis – a sticky, magical substance they use to build and protect their hives. It's like their very own superhero shield! 🛡️💫

Propolis is a mix of plant resins, beeswax, and their special bee juices. 🌿🐝 These little architects use it to seal gaps, fix things up, and keep their homes cozy. Kinda like the ultimate DIY project, but on a whole new level.

But guess what? Humans have discovered the power of propolis too! It's packed with antioxidants and all sorts of natural goodness that can support our well-being. We can use it from oral care to wound healing to sore throats. Plus, it's been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Bees really know their stuff!

So, next time you see a bee buzzing by, take a moment to appreciate all the hard work they put into creating this magical propolis. And maybe, just maybe, let's remember to give them a high-five (from a safe distance, of course) for being the unsung heroes of our ecosystem. 🙌🐝

Stay curious, stay fascinated, and always remember to bee kind!

It’s been a good year so far for soft fruit. We’ve eaten loads, there’s a load in the freezer and we’ve made quite a bit of jam. The trouble is while freezing retains the nutrients, I don’t like to put all my eggs in one basket, a few years ago my freezer broke and I had to turn all my stashed fruit into jam ( on a Christmas Day too!) And the trouble with jam, even though it’s a lovely treat, is I can’t believe it’s got any vitamin C left in it after the cooking process.
So how to preserve all that goodness? Oxymel is the answer 😊 oxymels are tonics made from vinegar, honey and any combination of fruits and herbs that you can think up. Preserving fruit and herbs this way enables you to use their medicinal benefits when you may need them.
Take a cup of blackcurrants , mush them up a little, add to a large jar and fill to the top with equal parts raw, organic vinegar and a good honey, such as the one shown .Put a piece of baking paper under the lid. Let this infuse for four weeks out of direct sunlight, then strain.
To use, you can take a spoonful in a small glass of water, or add to salad dressings as you would vinegar. Medicinally you could take a few times a day. Remember that due to the honey, this is not suitable for children under a year old.
Oxymels typically keep for about 6 months.

Anecdotally local honey has been taken to relieve hay fever for years, so what does the science say?
I have only found a few studies but they tend to agree that it may be useful. We have a large selection of honeys in stock now!

Plastics contain chemicals such as phthalates and BPA which are known as endocrine disruptors. This means that they can cause hormonal problems such as cancer and diabetes, and have adverse consequences on both male and female reproductive health as well as the developing foetus/ child. What’s more these chemicals can leach from plastic containers into its contents, especially fats, such as those used in cosmetics. Whatever you put on the skin is absorbed straight into the circulatory system where it can reach any part of the body in contrast to being eaten where it goes through the digestive system and has a chance of being detoxified by the liver before it accesses the blood and the internal organs.
Therefore we take the containers of our products very seriously, we try to limit our use of plastics both for your health and also the impact it has on the environment.

Summers finally here! That means it’s time to get out and top up your vitamin D, try and get 20 minutes a day before applying sunscreen, if you burn easily maybe less. Vitamin D is linked to immunity, studies showing there was a direct link between vitamin D status and covid outcomes.
So when it’s time to apply the sunscreen, which one is best? Most sunscreens are full of chemicals that we don’t want in our bodies, and are just as harmful to us than the result of not using them and getting burnt. I like to make my own, I use carrot seed oil, raspberry seed oil, coconut oil, Shea butter and some zinc oxide powder , make sure you this is 100% pure and not nano particles. The zinc oxide gives you the protection while the oils are all extremely nourishing so give protection by quenching harmful free radicals in the skin from the suns uv rays. There are reports on the internet claiming high spf of these oils but studies show this to be highly exaggerated.
It’s really simple to make, melt a tablespoon each of coconut oil and Shea butter in a heatproof bowl over hot water. Remove from heat, allow to cook a bit then add a teaspoon each of the carrot seed and raspberry seed oils and the zinc oxide powder ( wear a mask so that you don’t breath it in) mix it all together, and transfer to a glass jar.
We have a high quality Shea butter which is perfect for this recipe

https://www.naturalhealthfocus.co.uk/shop/p/pure-organic-100-shea-butter

Pure Organic 100% Shea Butter — Natural Health Focus From Ghana. In beautiful 125 ml natural wood pot Contains vitamin A and E, classic ingredients in skin creams because of their antioxidant properties.