Herban Cowboy Maximum Protection Deodorant (Wild Scent) - 80g

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera Gel is for its ability to heal skin and mucus membranes. Externally it speeds the healing and decreases the discomfort of burns (including radiation burns from cell therapy), cuts, insect stings, bruises, acne, poison ivy, skin ulcers (including diabetic ulcers) and eczema.

This is because aloe vera gel protects the damaged tissue from infection and has anti-inflammatory properties. Internally its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties act to heal the inner lining of the digestive tract, making it useful in the treatment of ulcers, hemorrhoids and colitis. It is also a laxative that can be used for constipation and as a colon cleanser.

Aloe vera can be purchased as a juice or gel. It is very sensitive to light and heat thus it needs to be processed and stabilized immediately after harvest. The quality aloe supplements may vary amongst manufacturers because of the fragile nature of the aloe gel. Parts of the raw plant can be opened and the fresh juice used topically or internally. The juice and gel located closest to the outer skin of the aloe plant contains the most intestinal stimulating properties. Most commercial supplements contain the whole-leaf, and therefore, a mixture of juice and gel from all parts of the leaf.

The body will become tolerant to the laxative effect of aloe vera therefore it should not be used as a long-term solution for constipation. Aloe vera gel should be used with caution by pregnant and lactating women. Aloe vera gel is a colourless substance that should not be confused with aloe dried exudate, a red-brown solid mass. Aloe exudate is highly concentrated and has much stronger effects in the body as compared to aloe vera gel.

Sweating - Why do we Sweat?

Sweating is a natural and very healthy process. We sweat to help reduce the temperature of the body and help cool the skin, part of an important process called thermoregulation. This is without a doubt the most important function of sweating. Every process in our body occurs at an optimal temperature and sweating is just one of the ways that our body ensures this optimal temperature is maintained, no matter what! Sweating is not just a result of heat, however, as many of you may have noticed, sweating can occur as a result of nervousness, among other emotions, and nausea. Emotionally induced sweating usually effects only the palms, soles and forehead, while sweating via thermoregulation affects the skin covering the entire body.

Detoxification
The skin is the largest organ in the body. The pores of the skin play a major role in the process of detoxification, along with other organs like the kidneys, liver, colon, lung and lymph nodes. Sweat literally carries toxins out of the body, flushing them through the pores. In doing so, it actually transforms lipid soluble molecules into water soluble molecules to ease in elimination. Some estimates claim that 30% of the body's waste is eliminated through sweat. Sweating is vital to our body's natural detoxification processes.

Other Benefits
Some of the other therapeutic health benefits of sweating include improved blood circulation and cardiovascular health. Sweating causes blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to drop (this is why those with blood pressure issues - low or high - need to start slow and monitor themselves when using a sauna). The heart is then forced to work more efficiently to pump blood. Studies have also shown there to be a moderate immune benefit to sweating. Heat stimulates the production of white blood cells (think about fever), therefore supporting a healthy immune response and helping to more effectively fight off infection. In terms of healthy skin, sweat contains small amounts of antibacterial substances, able to combat some of the natural bacteria on the skin. It can also serve to unclog pores and improve the skin's tone. Sweating can also be good for mood. Much like exercise, sweating activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. It causes an increase in noradrenaline and beta endorphins, which make us feel good. Unlike exercise, however, heat induced sweat, like that of a sauna, does not require muscle tension, nor the movement of large muscle groups. In fact, sweating acts to do the opposite, decreasing muscle tension and inducing relaxing. Similar to a meditative process, the mind and body must still be active due to the heat, but the muscles are completely relaxed. Perhaps this is why so many find the sauna so relaxing and rejuvenating, it can be seen as a form of meditation. There is a form of group therapy known as sweat therapy, in which the psycho physiological response to heat exposure is thought to be therapeutic both mentally and spiritually, as well as physically.