Beeswax has many beneficial properties such as is it moisturizing and conditions the skin. It is said to be a natural air freshener when burnt (and gives off the wonderful aroma of honey!). But if you're not into ruining your cookware to make your own lotions, deodorants, and candles (you can leave that to us!), what can be done with just a block of beeswax?
We've created a small list to give you some ideas:
1.) Use it on hinges to stop any squeaking.
2.) Lubricate drawer edges so they glide more smoothly.
3.) Put it on screws before putting them in wood to keep the wood from splitting.
4.) Coat metal tools in areas with high humidity to prevent corrosion.
5.) Use it on sewing thread to make it stronger and prevent tangling.
6.) Use it to coat a cast iron pot.
7.) Make your own beeswax food wraps to reduce your use of plastic bags.
So if you're looking for a more natural alternative to WD-40 or other synthetically-made waxes, contact your local beekeeper and try out some beeswax. A little goes a long way, but is very diverse, malleable, and easy to work with!
(This is a condensed version of a list found in The Beeswax Workshop by Chris Dalziel, copyright 2017 by Uysses Press, Berkeley, CA.)
]]>I always used to wonder why mainstream deodorant commercials always highlighted their product as being ‘pH balanced.’ Well, now I know. According to Dr. David Williams (http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/proper-ph-balance/), “The acidity or alkalinity of a substance is measured using pH. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic, 14 being the most alkaline, and 7 being neutral. To survive, our bodies must maintain the pH very close to 7.4, which is just on the alkaline side of neutral. If your body’s pH varies too much from this ideal, it becomes difficult for various enzymes to function properly.” Baking soda, which has an alkalinity of about 8.5 on the pH scale, is one of the main ingredients in The Wholesome Hive’s natural deodorant, as well as many other natural deodorants on the market. Because of this, sometimes applying this amount of baking soda to the skin can cause a person’s pH to be off balance. This is not typical, and most people do not experience this, but for those that do, using natural deodorant can be annoying and painful if not treated properly. The good news is that there is a remedy for this problem!
If one has too much alkalinity, it needs to be balanced with something acidic. By applying raw apple cider vinegar to his armpits for three days, my husband’s underarms returned to normal, with the itchiness and redness gone. There are a few ways this can be done. The vinegar can be applied straight (use a cloth or cotton swab) or it can be diluted with some water in a spray bottle. Whatever method is chosen, once the vinegar is applied, it should be allowed to dry completely and then deodorant can be applied as usual. Everyone’s skin and body reacts differently, so each individual will have to experiment and see what works. Also, if the skin is very irritated, it may be wise to not apply the deodorant again until after a few days of using the apple cider vinegar solution and allowing the skin to heal.
The bottom line is, there are many factors that play into the well-being of one’s body, that one problem may not have the same solution for everyone. It is important to know your skin and always test new products on a small area first. For many people, when switching from a mainstream deodorant to a natural solution, it will take a small amount of time for the body to adjust to the change. What about you? Have you had this happen? Do you have any tips or tricks to share?
Sources:
http://www.crunchybetty.com/new-news-and-ph-balancing-your-old-homemade-deodorant-problems
]]>Lately, when people see our honey displayed, they give a confused look. Before even having to question the consistency, I quickly offer a sample of the 'solidified' honey and await the satisfied responses. You see, raw honey tends to crystallize quite rapidly. Some crystallizes faster than others, depending on the chemical makeup (the ratio of glucose, fructose and water the bees put in the honey), if it has been heated and/or filtered at all during the extraction process, and the plants the bees found to make the honey. Some people have confessed to throwing away honey when it crystallizes, thinking it had gone bad. My heart drops a little as I explain to them that honey is the only food that has an infinite shelf life (as long as it has not been exposed to moisture, which will make it ferment). In fact, recently there was a report of some honey (crystallized, of course) found in King Tut's tomb...and it was still good! Crystallized honey is actually easier to work with in some cases. It is creamy, so it is easy to transfer into a cup of tea without drizzling it on the counter in the process, and it spreads very nicely on toast...and stays there! If you would like the honey to be liquid again, there are a few options. You can either put about an inch of water in a saucepan on low heat and then put the jar of honey in the water until it liquifies (creating a double boiler effect). You can also heat up water to no warmer than 150°F, remove from the heat and then place the jar in the water until liquified. Another option is to put water in a crockpot, then put the jar of honey in that, which takes a little longer. Heat does cause a reduction in the beneficial microorganisms of honey. However, as long as the temperature of the water is low, most of the 'good stuff' (wax, pollen, and propolis that contain the enzymes, nutrients and vitamins and provide the antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antioxidant properties) will remain in the honey. As a side note, never attempt to put a plastic honey container in the microwave, even for a few seconds, unless you want to see a melted honey bear and a messy microwave. So there you have it...an explanation for crystallized honey. Not only is it still good, but it's also a good sign that there was either no or very little heat applied while extracting, allowing the honey to contain all of its original nutrients.
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