Hippocrates (c.460-370 B.C.) once said, “The natural way is the only way.” As we venture into the new millennium, many people are moving toward the natural lifestyle recommended by the Father of Medicine thousands of years ago. Organic foods are becoming increasingly available and consumed. Yoga, pilates, and other types of movement are becoming daily activities. Various alternative therapies including reiki, breathwork, and acupuncture are quickly emerging as alternatives to conventional allopathic medical treatments. Often, people become so harried trying to naturally achieve and maintain balance within their core that they forget to take care of their “shell.”
While no one would dispute the validity of the saying, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts,” looking and feeling good on the outside can increase both self-esteem and confidence, which can help sustain that crucial emotional balance inside the body. After the rush associated with the holidays, many people begin the New Year hoping it will bring renewal. Too soon after making resolutions -- to be less stressed, to save money, to get more sleep -- life’s many responsibilities get in the way and we feel, by February or March, that we’ve failed. Staying up nights worrying about how you are going to pay for that yoga/meditation class and your electric bill will have you failing before you even begin to do better for yourself.
Here is a challenge that will help you reduce stress and save money while bringing that sense of renewal we are constantly seeking. It will require some resolve on your part, adding five items to your grocery cart, and taking an hour a week to spend on yourself. The following recipes are designed to combat the ill effects of harsh winter weather on your face, hair, lips, and body, without costing a fortune, or requiring hours of hunting down ingredients and making concoctions. (Each recipe has only three steps!) Your challenge is to spend a little time each week treating your body to one (or all) of these treatments. You will look and feel better on the outside, which will make you glow from the inside.

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