Monday, October 12, 2009

Cerassie Tea

Okay, I think I've talked about Cerassie/Cerasee tea before but I want to talk about it again today.

My friend introduced it to me for my eczema at least 2 years ago and though I have not used it for my eczema, I do drink it when I have an upset stomach or generally feel sick. If you decide to try it for your eczema, you will not be drinking this tea. You will have to soak a cotton ball or sponge with the tea and wash yourself with the tea. I'm just too lazy for that. :(

This tea is also good for you if you have a cold and I'm drinking it right now as a matter of fact. My man has a cold right now and I'm starting to feel the effects of it tonight. My throat is a bit scratchy and I was feeling the chills. I was feeling a sick to my stomach before I drank the tea but after a few sips I'm feeling good again. It's weird. Maybe it's mind over matter, but I doubt it. All I know is every time I feel sick to the stomach and I drink this tea, I'm good as new.

If you have not tasted this tea before, I must warn you that it is BITTER. It's not an enjoyable tea, like green tea. So, it's not something I drink when I'm feeling fine. When I am feeling sick however, the bitterness of the tea is not as strong. I actually welcome the bitter taste. In fact, I got my man to drink it the other day and he said it worked on him too. He doesn't mind the bitterness, he actually likes it.

So, if you are looking for a natural tea to help with a sick stomach or a cold, go to a Jamaican/Caribbean store or a health store and look for Cerasee tea and see if it works for you.

If you live in Toronto, my friend told me you can find it in one of the stores in Kensington Market. I was lucky enough to receive a box from her, but I will check out exactly where soon, so I will post it up here in case anyone is interested. I'm sure you can order it online as well if you search for it.

I always remember the saying that too much of anything is not good for you, so I only drink this tea when I need it. I don't drink this tea on a regular basis and I'm not suggesting that you do either. :)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Hand Eczema

Two months ago, I developed eczema on my hands. The skin on the palm of my hands became really itchy one day so I rubbed my hands together instead of scratching. When I looked at them, they were red and they felt hot. The only thing I thought I could do is to wash them and then put on my medicated cream. The new one that my doctor prescribed; but it never really healed until recently.

I also had eczema on the top of my right hand as well and it was itchy, dry and in some parts raised up. I thought that was it, I'm going to be stuck with that ugly right hand forever. No matter what I did to prevent myself from scratching, I end up scratching when I was working in the office. Again, I washed my hands and put on the prescribed medicated cream diligently but I didn't really see any improvement until this week. In fact, the eczema on my right hand and the palm of my hands disappeared.

So what changed? I haven't been in the office working for one week and within this one week everything began to heal. And if you look at my hands now, you would not know that I had an eczema flare up at all. It's so strange.

I know I've been less stressed out lately and that definitely must be a major reason why I healed so quickly but I wonder if I was allergic to something in the office. The air must be polluted some how or my desk was dirty? I don't know. All I know is that when I'm in the office my face feels really dry. In fact, my hands feels dry too. I seriously think there is a direct link to my eczema flare up and the office environment.

My doctor definitely thinks my eczema is stress induced. So now that I'm less stressed, my skin is eczema free again. Now it's just a matter of keeping myself moisturized.

I've been using Burt's Bees Radiance Night Cream with Royal Jelly, Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss and Burt's Bees Body Lotion with Royal Jelly with natural mica to enhance skin tone. These products are great. I actually still use my Curel Continuous Comfort Fragrance free lotion on my body but I use the Burt's Bees Body Lotion on my hands when I am out and feel my hands getting dry. The Burt's Bees products are pretty low on the hazardous scale so I'm happy about that.

The Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss is also really great. It gives me the shine and colour I love and it moisturizes at the same time. I love it. It also smells like berries which lifts up my spirits whenever I put it on my lips.

I bought these products at Shopper's DrugMart and Walmart but you can also get them via well.ca if you just want to order them online.

Anyways, I'm glad that my eczema flare up has subsided for now. Still in search of the ultimate face cream...all natural if I can find it. So far, the Radiance Night Cream is doing the job but still feel I may find something better out there? I need something for the day...I may try the Burt's Bees Carrot Nutritive Day Creme, but I didn't buy it before because it contains almond oils to and aloe vera. I'm still cautious about trying anything with ingredients that I may be allergic to. The mention of almond oils kind of scared me off. We'll see, I may try it.

Till next time.


Saturday, August 15, 2009

Summer is Here - Eczema Confusion

So recently the weather got hotter here in Toronto and finally I can say that we have summer weather. Of course I love the heat more than the bone chillin' weather we have here in T.O. but either way my skin is subjected to constant abuse...mainly by my own scratching! I can't help it, it's like the itch is just so insanely intense. I am feelig it on my fingers and both my arms right now. Typing is the only thing stopping me from reaching over and scraching both my arms. (Okay, I just stopped typing for 3 seconds and rubbed by itchy spots just now.)

Anyways, I found a video on youtube.com and it show how others are suffering from the big E.

I'll post it up later when I figure out how. But the video just makes me think how others must feel when they look at me sometimes. Now that I'm much older it really doesn't bother me as much anymore what people think when they look at me. I'm envious when I look at other people's beautiful clear skin...like my brother's or my boyfriend's. I tell my boyfriend to stop looking at me sometimes though but he's really sweet, he would tell me that he loves me and that he knows I have a skin problem but it's who I am inside that he loves. Just go and get your cream and you'll be good as new. :)

I recently got a new perscription from my doctor and it's called Elcocom cream - 0.1%. It's supposed to be stronger and I only have to put it on twice a day. I didn't use my perscription correctly last time because my doctor gave me a cream that I needed to put on 4 times a day. Who the heck has time for that? Even if I did, what a bother. So now I'm hoping it will work out bette for me. It seems to be working because my legs are not as red and raise anymore.

It's really hot today...I gotta get out of the house. See you.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

To Take Antihistamine or Not To Take...

It's a question I ask my self every day.

Should I take the antihistamine or not? If I take it, then it will stop my itchy face and body within half an hour or so. However, after taking it I feel tired and weak. I can't think straight and I don't want to do anything but sit and stare into space. It's okay if I don't have to talk to anyone and I don't have to work but atlas I do. So? It's Sunday today and I have a lot to do for work but I can't right now. Aargh. I hope this stops soon so I can get back to it. To be honest, if I have to choose I have to choose me and my skin.

The worst feeling is when my face is itchy. I try not to scratch but it's so itchy so I end up rubbing it. You can't really use your fingers to actually scratch it! Well, except my forehead and then it gets scratched up. When I rub it it turns all red, raised up and that's what looks like right this minute.

I'm trying not to do it anymore so I'm writing in here to share my thoughts and to stop myself from touching my face. I mean, if I'm concentrating on typing I can't be touching my face right? Also by putting my feelings down I'm trying to calm my nerves. It's stress induce and I create the stress for myself. That's what I believe. I need to not get worked up over anything and just chill. It's not the end of the world if everything is not done. There are limited amount of hours in a day. Some should be spent resting and others from Monday to Friday should be on work. So if it spills over and it cuts into your life then you've got a choice to make. You? Or work?

Me.

So here I am writing to calm my nerves and to tell you that it is working. Of course, I took my pill so now I'm also feeling a bit drowsy. I'm not very good with drugs. When I asked my doctor why the Non-drowsy makes me drowsy, he said every one reacts differently to drugs. When the label says Non-drowsy doesn't mean it doesn't contain the ingredients that make you drowsy. It just contains less of it. What?! But it's true, it makes me drowsy and the ones that doesn't say Non-drowsy just knocks me right out. Sigh* You would think taking them all these years would make me less affected by it but nooooo.

This is the time I think about sitting in a chair on a deck looking out at the ocean. I think of Phuket, looking out from my hotel deck. Nice and calm and beautiful. I feel the cool mist. I'm calm and relaxed. No worries, no problems, no one bothering me, no one asking me any questions. It's just me, myself and I. Aaaaaaah.

Hmmm, this visualization thing really works. You've just got to take a little me time to do it.

Okay, so that's that for today. I'm trying out a new organic shampoo and conditioner right now. I'll share that with you next time. I want to make sure they work well. So far I love it becauase it smells great and my hair actually feels really soft.

Till next time.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Ups and Downs of Eczema

Well, I'm glad to say that my eczema seems to be subsiding a bit this week.
It's probably because I went to my doctor to ensure I got my medicated cream refills. No manner what you must have medicated cream around for flare ups before it gets out of hand.

One of my kind colleague at work gave me her tube of Lyderm ointment and it tied me over a bit before I was able to see my doctor; but, the Betamethasone Valerate Cream .1% is still works the best cream for me. I don't put it on my face though, I use Protopic on my face when it gets itchy and flaky.

After my flare up clears up within usually three days, I then switch to using the Tortuga Super Emollient Lotion. I just got my new supply yesterday!! Was so excited. I also ordered the Luminos Hydrating Moisturizer for the day time. It's suppose to give you a soft focus effect like foundation but it kind of smells weird. It doesn't smell as delicious as the Tortuga.

However, Luminos does give me a nice foundation looking finish. I can use it to mix with mineral foundation. Pretty cool. I just feel better using products that are natural when I don't have to use my medicated cream. Peace of mind.

I'm glad to say that the Eye Butter still helps me through the day when I'm really dry and when I'm not, it works like wonders! Didn't peel at all the whole day today. Hmmm, maybe because it was raining outside? Not sure.

I also got the Tortuga Intensive Therapy roll on so I can bring it with me everywhere I go. It smell really nice...like a spa. :)

So all in all, the All-Natural Keys products are still working well for me! I love them.

If you are looking for All-Natural, Gluten-Free and Chemical-Free products please try these products. I hope they work for you like they do for me. Super great for super dry skin!

Well, back to work...or better yet, I better get myself to sleep soon. Till next time.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Constant Change of Weather and Eczema

The weather here went from Spring to Winter to Spring to Winter! So, my skin is just not loving it at all. Plus, I started working again so I'm stressed and the office is super dry. My colleagues are cold so little heaters are running and the little moisture I have is sucked right out. The combination of not having the time to put on my moisturizer on properly and the dry air has left me red and peeling again. Hopeful work will calm down a bit and my learning curve improves so I'm less stressed.

In any case, I made another order for my Tortuga and the Eye Butter the other day to ensure I don't run out. Without them I'll be worse off. This time I also ordered the shampoo and conditioner. Can't wait to receive them!! :p And I will bring my Avene Thermal Spring Water into the office and that should help. It's all about adapting and keeping my skin moist. :)

My Curel is still working for me so that's cool, I just got to leave time to put it on properly.

I haven't found anything else interesting, but will definitely update once I do.

In the meantime....MOISTURIZE!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Hydrated Face - Me?

Wow, I can't believe this I walked around all day long. Inside the shopping mall and outside for two hours and my face is still hydrated. It's incredible. Me of all people.
My eye lids and the skin around my eyes have been continually flaky since this winter. Actually, my skin around my upper lids have been dry for long time now ---but not anymore.

I didn't believe the write-up on the Keys website about their Eye Butter Cream, but I ordered a sample to try because it's all natural and we all know how I'm into the all natural products and the 0 to 3 rating on Skin Deep website. :) I'm so glad that I did because it's all true, my eyes haven't looked this good for a very long time. So it goes without saying I'm going to order the real thing before I finish my sample trail size. It's going to last for awhile I think. I've been putting it on for one week now and I still have a lot! I'm so happy!

So that's that. Using the Tortuga for my face and using the Eye Butter has hydrated my face to my total satisfaction. I think I'm going to see if I can put in a testimonial on their site!!! I love the products they have. In LOVE.