Mid Brain muses:
On several occasions we’ve blogged about natural ingredients like mushroom extract and snail slime that really work. But we still get accused of bashing natural products because we allegedly work for “Big Cosmetic” or “Big Pharma” companies. So before any one decides to accuse us of being shills for the “Big Agricultural” industry, here’s a story about how natural lavender may kill weeds better than synthetic chemicals.
Lovely lavender soap
According to this article, research published in the International Journal of Environment and Health shows that essential oils extracted from lavender be used as a natural herbicide to stop weeds from infiltrating healthy crops.
Reseachers including Elena Sturchio of the National Institute of Health and Safety at Work in Rome and colleagues there and at the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, and the Department Crop Production, at Tuscia University, in Viterbo, have discovered that lavender (aka Lavandula officinalis) produces aromatic oils consisting of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes and phenols that can have an inhibitory effect on weed growth. These natural substances could replace synthetic pesticides and herbicides that can be toxic and in some cases are potentially carcinogenic.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Even shills for Big Cosmetic companies can find something positive to say about natural chemistry.
What do YOU think? Does your interest in natural cosmetics extend to gardening products? What about household cleansers? Leave a comment and share your natural inclinations with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
Loading ...
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s always such a crock when people accuse you guys of that. You’ve touted plenty fo natural products, and slammed plenty of synthetic ones. The ugly truth about beauty
is that most things just don’t work. Claudia Schiffer looks like that ebcause that’s what she looks like. The rest of us look like what we look like. Period. Not much more than that.
Sadly, even Claudia doesn’t look the way she looks without Photoshop.
She probably still looks pretty good even without it, though …
But I agree in general — I can guarantee the woman has pores in real life.
It gets flat-out creepy when they start erasing stuff like veins that a perfectly healthy body HAS. What are they gonna decide to start erasing next? Elbows?
I had a good laugh at your comments about your corporate puppetry. You’re probably the most un-biased reviewers I’ve ever read. Love it. Every day you make me a better esthetician so keep it up!
http://primalelementsonline.blogspot.com/2009/06/lovely-lavender.html
Not sure that I want to use my precious lavender essential oil on weeds. Natural DW soap and vinegar in water works well too.
I might for fire ants though. My fav fire ant killing method is couple of gallons of boiling water, couple of good squirts of a liquid dishwashing soap and a couple of tablespoons of cayenne, African bird pepper or any REALLY hot pepper. Lavender is optional. Early morning is best as the queen will be closer to the surface. Lug your water out to the mound and gently pour it directly into the hole. Watch out for the demons streaming out, but dump the whole thing in there. The soap washes the protective oils off their shells, the pepper and boiling water do the rest.
If you listen carefully, you can hear the tiny little screams ;D And before anyone gets ‘het up’ about cruelty, etc., those beggars are vicious and can kill full grown livestock and human beings. I’ve liven in towns where they did both. I’ve been bitten, my kids have….the more they suffer the better.
I agree, a few squirts of pickling vinegar (7% acetic acid or more) does the job quickly. It’s best if you apply in the sun. Next day, they’ll be shriveled and withering away.
I wholeheartedly believe in the power of natural remedies. I became a convert after I read Kevin Trudeau’s Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About. I changed my life after i read this book. Now I use vinegar and water to clean surfaces, use natural laundry detergent, and organic beauty products as well. I can definitely say I look and feel better then before!
i agree with robin, natural remedies r best