How to Naturally Detox Like a Pro with 14-day Skinnytox Tea

 Note: This post contains affiliate links

If like me, you've wanted to do a detox but the negative side effects that often come with many detox products stopped you, then you'll like Skinnytox Tea.

Skinnytox tea by Botanica Science a 100% natural, 14-day detox system that includes two different delicious herbal teas (a morning and a night tea). 

This 14-day detox kit is simple, easy, and healthy. There are no negative or scary side effects and the ingredients are all natural.

I've been on the most pleasant detox of my life for the last week since I started the 14-day Skinnytox teas, and I can hardly contain my excitement over the entire experience, including the surprising results I'm seeing just one-week in.

From left: The Morning Tea Blend, the Night Time Tea Blend, My gorgeous owl mug that is absolutely necessary for sippin' in style, and an informational pamphlet about the Skinnytox Teas.

Let's talk about a few important factors that anyone who's considering detoxing should know -- what is a good detox anyways? 

How do you know what detox product would actually "work" when there's an overwhelming amount of supplements and drinks that claim to detoxify your body?

 

What a True 'Detox' System Should Consist Of:

A proper detoxification system should combine the following: A safe, natural, and thorough cleansing (with the focus being on the digestive system and colon) while also reducing water weight and bloating.  

Those are the basics that should be expected from a detox product. The antioxidant-rich Skinnytox tea 14-day detox system does all of those, including reducing water weight, bloating, and detoxing the colon. Plus, it naturally boosts energy levels, suppresses appetite, reduces inflammation, improves digestion, and supports your metabolism and immune system. I also find the teas to be soothing on the digestive system and stomach.

You can join me in the 14-day detox by ordering the SkinnyTox Tea Kit and using code:  KendraTea15 at check-out. *There's also a 28-day detox kit available.

-Botanica Science-

Close-up: Skinnytox teas are filled with 14 fruits, herbs, and tea. The flavor: heavenly.

Taste:
Warm or iced, both the Skinnytox teas that come in this system are delicious.

I enjoy turning the AC on high and snuggling up under the covers with a book and a warm cup of the night-time tea right before drifting off to sleep. When I wake up and leave my dark, cold den of bliss, the stifling July heat entices me to drop a few ice cubes into my cup of the energy blend morning tea.

Other times, I enjoy the teas warm. Either choice is always delicious.

The pleasant flavor makes these teas a real treat. As someone who appreciates her high-quality herbal teas, I can't say I actually savor or even enjoy the taste of most.

In fact, while I occasionally drink herbal teas for the health benefits or for relief of some type of ailment, I find it hard to tolerate the taste, aside from the slightly sweetened regular ol' black tea that us folks from the south are so fond of.

Skinnytox teas, unlike any other tea, have been a complete pleasure to my taste buds. I have no problem draining two mugs of Skinnytox (morning blend and night blend) every single day.
 

Energy Blend is a refreshingly sweet green tea

I love the refreshing, clean, sweet, lemon-y and slightly green flavor of the morning blend. The energy-inducing herbal ingredients really wake me up. And I typically require a hefty 120 milligrams of caffeine before I even start my day.

                                  

I can't say I could just cold-turkey my caffeine habit, but I am impressed with the energy boost I get from the Skinnytox morning blend.

The rich-red night-time blend is fruity and calming

As for the night-time blend, its fruity-ness somewhat serves the ever-present sweet-tooth of mine by decreasing my urge to go to bed with a sugary snack in-hand.

The night-time blend has a fruity, berry-like flavor to it and is somewhat acidic flavor like  citrus fruits.

Now let me just share about Botanica Science so you guys know what kind of folks are behind this genius detox tea system.

My Results:

 A lot of "detox" supplements and beverages I've used don't really come with significantly noticeable results, and I suppose that's okay. 

Due to not experiencing noticeable differences when I tried other detoxing products in the past, I really didn't expect this 14-day detox to produce any results whatsoever. 

I expected it to be nothing more than just drinking a regular cup of healthy, herbal tea everyday. But by the 4th or 5th day of this Skinnytox cleanse, boy was I certain that the stuff was actually causing noticeable differences in my body.

It isn't huge, crazy changes. What I noticed were subtle, but pleasant effects such as my favorite one of all -- waking up the 4th or 5th day with a flat stomach.

As someone who's battled issues like IBS, candidiasis, and even endometriosis, bloating, distended abdomen, and  discomfort are all pretty much the normal for me on most days.

Even though I've gone through a serious recovery from the debilitating pain and suffering of those conditions, I still have  minor irritations that hang around. I have to stay on top of the symptoms and on keeping my digestive system healthy and in balance. 

The truth is, digestive issues are pretty high-maintenance little suckers.

So, to finally have my comfortable, flat, not-bloated abdomen come back has almost been like a new life for me.

I've not yet finished the full 14-days, but I was able to fit into a pair of shorts that I've not been able to get past my rear-end in over a year! 

Just yesterday I decided to try them on again (after waking up with a noticeably flatter, non-bloated stomach) and was blown away when they not only fit over my body, but with room to spare!

Even when I first bought the shorts, they were very tight. So it's a thrill to be able to wear some of my clothes again. I'd stopped wearing a lot of my shorts because they'd become too tight since last summer.

  Now it's like having new shorts all over again and at the perfect time, too since we're still in the warm summer months.

I know you guys will wonder if the 14-day Skinnytox system has actually caused me to lose pounds. 

So far, I can't say it has. My weight seems to be staying consistent, only going down 1 pound since I started the Skinnytox.

I feel like some serious detoxing of the extra water weight, waste, and just general toxins are gently being removed and as a result, the smaller sized me underneath all that bloating and crud is showing through.

I would prefer to detox rather than get some short-term weight loss from a product like this, anyways. Needless to say, I'm totally thrilled with this Skinnytox and excited to see what happens as I continue.

My hope is that the results will stay around for a good while. I will definitely come back to Skinnytox as a regular method of detox because it's gentle, effective, safe, natural, and has a wealth of health benefits along with it.

The 14-day Morning and Night teas each come in their own nice little tins that can be re-used.

The Organic Energy Berry Morning Tea Blend is a green (Sencha) based blend

This morning tea contains amazing energy-boosting ingredients that get me going both mentally and physically without a crash.

Ingredients: Sencha, Eluethero Root/Siberian Ginseng, Stevia Leaf (Paraguay), Gotu Kola (Sri Lanka), Rosehips (Chile), Orange Peel (California/USA), Currants (California/USA), Elderberries (Albania).

Below you'll find information regarding what each of the ingredients are good for:

Sencha: Increases metabolism, supports immune system, suppresses appetite, lowers cholesterol, neutralizes free-radicals.

Siberian Ginseng: Increases energy, suppresses appetite, controls cravings, heightens mental state.

Stevia Leaf: A natural sweetener, diuretic, anti-inflammatory.

Gotu Kola: Eliminates fatigue, anxiety, depression, and improves memory.

Rosehips: Lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure, eliminates fluid retention, aids in weight loss, increases immune system function.

Orange Peel: A natural antioxidant. May help prevent cancer, reduces weight and cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, fights infection such as colds and flu, relieves bronchitis and even treats bad breath.

Currants: Rich in vitamin-C, potassium, and contains twice the antioxidants of blueberries. May help lower risk of cancer, reduces inflammation.

Elderberries: High in antioxidant activity, improves immune system and heart health, lowers cholesterol, improves vision.

The Organic Herbal Detox Night Tea Blend is a Rooibois (non-caffeinated) based tea.

This night tea has a calming, soothing effect and contains natural diuretics and laxatives. And in the meantime, you'll experience digestive regulation.

Ingredients:  Hibiscus ( Burkina Faso), Rosehips (Chile), Rooibos(South Africa), Apple Fruit (Kyrgyzstan), Senna Leaf (India), Orange Peel (California/USA), Licorice Root (Uzbekistan), Lemon Grass (Paraguay).

See the benefits of each ingredient below:

Hibiscus: Contains Vitamin C, lowers blood pressure, diuretic.

Rosehips: Lower high cholesterol and high blood pressure, eliminates fluid retention, aids in weight loss, increases immune system function.

Rooibos: Antioxidant rich, helps digestive problems, anti-anxiety.

Apple Fruit: Supports healthy heart, reduces cholesterol, weight control, detoxifies liver, improves immune system, helps with diarrhea and constipation (balances.)

Senna Leaf: An FDA-approved, non-prescription laxative that also helps with weight loss.

Orange Peel: Cleanses the lungs and respiratory system, supports immune system, high antioxidant activity, rich in fiber and Vitamin C.

Licorice Root: Anti-inflammatory, helps digestion, reduces cravings.

Lemon Grass: Helps digestion, helps in treatment of high blood pressure, calms nervous disorders.

        Product Specs:

 Botanica Science is a socially and environmentally responsible company who uses 100% natural, whole ingredients from tea gardens and herb farms that practice responsible agriculture.

Botanica Science uses recyclable materials, including their reusable, beautiful tea tins.

The awesome sachets are made from a corn-based material.

  They are so neat and in fact, I was really intrigued by their unique appearance. The sachets are  non-toxic and chemical free and they do not contain any plastics, staples or glue.

   The 14-day tea detox system includes two tins of teas -- one that contains your morning tea and one that contains your night-time tea.

Rating:

If I were to give this detox system a rating, I would have to give it a full 5 out of 5 "points." I absolutely love it. From the delicious taste to the health benefits and impressive visible results, this detox tea really has everything I could want and need in a detox regimen. 

I love that Botanica Science went one step further and even combined energy-boosting ingredients in with the detox tea. That's exactly my kind of detox -- one that also gives me energy!

 I will absolutely use this 14-day detox system again, and probably even establish regular use (at least a couple of times a year as I probably need to detox at least twice a year.)

Join along on the detox journey! Use code: KendraTea15  at checkout for a discount.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advice of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Milk Thistle by Vita Pure Video Review

Apparently my video is too long for Blogger to allow me to place it here, so if you'd like to see the video review version, please go view it here.

Hello to all my fellow health seeds (instead of health "nuts." Get it? My creativity is totally on fire tonight!)  Here I am on yet another health journey, which makes what? The dozenth "journey" this year?  

I've centered a lot of the last year's product reviews on health related products like supplements since I've been on this never-ending journey of better health. The latest of them being a gentle cleanse. While I do like to make some efforts here and there to keep a clean, healthy system all throughout the year, I thought now would be the perfect time to really kick it up a notch and do a little cleansing of my innards as the Holiday season approaches us. It has just been the perfect time really because as many of you know, I've also dove into something called the "happiness challenge," and what better time to do a system cleanse than now? I figure it might even help increase how well I feel. 

With it also being the time of season many of us tend to indulge the most (I mean, Thanksgiving just happened and this season is surrounded with dinners of all sorts), it was just one more reason to dive right in and take this step to really give back to my liver. I mean, we're all giving back and being thankful, right? Well, I tend to love giving back and being grateful where it counts most: my health! When we're at our best health-wise, we're even better in every other area as well.

So, I added one more, very simple step into my cleansing journey -- milk thistle! Milk thistle, let me tell you, has so many amazing benefits that I can't even keep up with them all. For one, it's basically like turning your liver brand new, cleaning it, detoxifying it, tonifying it, strengthening it, repairing some damage that may have been done to it, and more. It's my thinking that if I can do all that good stuff for my liver, then it's bound to benefit the rest of my body and overall well-being as well, right? 

Being so excited about this fun journey, I went the extra mile to include a video review for you guys so you can take a break from my crazy-long written reviews for a minute. However, I'll also have the specs of the product as well as other possibly useful information written below for those of you who prefer to read or have a crappy internet provider like I do (Hughes Net, I'm looking at you!) and aren't allowed to watch videos before 2 Am. 

Aside from this review, I've also gone another extra mile to share a more brief version on Amazon, for folks who do not visit my blog but might be looking at this particular brand of milk thistle -- by Vita Pure. Whichever form you prefer, I've covered them all this time (and if you're feeling generous and inclined to do so, I'd greatly appreciate feedback on which form of review you guys prefer: written, video, brief Amazon review, none of the above, all of the above?)

Vita Pure Milk Thistle

 As shown above in the photo of the Milk Thistle label, the product contains 175 milligrams of milk thistle extract (standardized to 80% silymarin), and 275 milligrams of milk thistle herb powder.

One capsule = 450 milligrams.
Vita Pure recommends taking 1, 2 (increasing to 3 times, if needed)  a day, 30 minutes before each meal and with 8 ounces of water.

 Benefits of Milk Thistle

 Milk thistle is a natural detoxifier that strengthens the liver, repairs damaged cells, tonifies the liver and cleanses it.

Milk thistle can decrease and reverse damage to the liver caused by over-the-counter-medicines and prescription drugs, excessive alcohol consumption as well as the effects of pollutants found in the environment -- This is the biggest reason for me using milk thistle personally since I've often worried about the possible damage done to my liver by these things.

 As someone who has constant migraines, I take a lot of BC powders (as it's the only thing I've ever been able to find relief from), so I desperately wanted to kind of just be pro-active and be one step ahead and try to counter-act any possible negative effects on my liver and body, for that matter. Milk Thistle seems to be extremely promising, so it's something I feel really good about using.

Milk Thistle is also an antioxidant and a mild, natural laxative.
To name a few other benefits of milk thistle, 

- Hangovers

- Depression
- Allergy Symptoms
- Diabetes Management
- Gallbladder disorders
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Bowel function improvement
- Kidney protection (an effect of silymarin)
- It removes toxins and helps rebuilds liver cells.

- Can reverse liver damage.
- Milk Thistle has been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and in hepatitis C.  

- Has beneficial properties for prostate health, possibly beneficial for acne, signs of aging, and high cholesterol.

- Protects against cardiovascular disease
- Protects against breast cancer
- Has "anti-tumor activities against skin cancer."

Milk Thistle Specs: 

(I've already said it in my video review, but I'll put it in written form too)

•  The milk thistle supplement by Vita Pure is standardized to 80% silymarin. Silymarin is what repairs liver cells.  80%, is the maximum potency for milk thistle.  

• Silymarin is 10 times more powerful than Vitamin E.     

  

•  Silymarin is also a kidney protectant.

  

•  The Milk Thistle supplement by Vita Pure is made in the USA in a Certified GMP (good manufacturing practices) facility.

Close-up of the Milk Thistle tablets by Vita Pure

 An even closer close-up of the tablets

Rating for Vita Pure's Milk Thistle Supplement and My Results So Far:

I have to give this milk thistle supplement what the review world calls a "5-star rating" because I actually noticed some improvements just one week into taking it (which I described in my video -- the IBS issues have been noticeably smoother for me). Another factor in my high rating would be the certified GMP facility, which means that Vita Pure uses "good manufacturing processes." 

Due to my not ever noticing even the slightest difference when I took a milk thistle supplement in the past, I didn't expect to actually notice anything with this one, so I was surprised when I did see some minor improvements in the digestive system department, and after 2 weeks, I realized I'd been feeling lighter.

 By that, I just mean that I feel light, normal and without the typical bloating/inflammation that most folks with IBS have on a regular basis. I actually had no idea I was as thin as I really am until several days passed and I noticed things felt more comfortable in my abdomen area and looked flatter. The bloating and swelling/inflammation in general that comes with IBS can literally make you look and feel heavier than you are, so getting a relief from that was awesome! It made me feel much better all over.

I'm looking forward to even more results from using this milk thistle supplement & I will post back with any new ones.

As for Vita Pure themselves, I'm impressed and grateful for my experience with them and their product. 

I have to applaud them for their great communication back & forth with me and because the product shipped within a timely manner. Much quicker than anything else I've ever purchased off Amazon, in fact. I don't even think it was 3 days (maybe 2) that I received the order after placing it.

To sum this up, I didn't expect to be able to give this high of a rating for a milk thistle supplement, but I would certainly recommend the Vita Pure milk thistle supplement to anybody who can take it (as long as health problems or other medications do not interact and make it impossible.) I feel like the great many benefits are so worth taking the tablets every day, and it's something I feel that most everybody will benefit from in some way or other! I would especially recommend the Vita Pure milk thistle supplement to folks like me who ...

1. Take medications on regular basis (even if it is just BC powders.)

2. Don't eat 100% healthy all the time.

3. Have IBS, candidiasis, or similar issues that affect the digestive system. I actually would recommend this supplement above anything else when it comes to "regulating" and bringing comfort to your digestive system. Also for folks with constipation. This is what I would personally use for that as well.

I really can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit in some way from taking this, so I hope some of you will join me on my journey to health and happiness!

If any of you want to join me on my natural liver cleansing journey before the holidays, Vita Pure is offering 15% off their Milk Thistle Pure. Go here and paste in promo code: MTHTom15.  Expires on December 17, 2014 December 30, 2014 (deadline has been extended by Vita Pure)







Sources: Wikipedia.com, NCCAM
Katiyar SK. Silymarin [milk thistle] and skin cancer prevention: anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects (Review). Int J Oncol. 2005 Jan;26(1):169-76.
Silibinin prevents ultraviolet radiation-caused skin
damages in SKH-1 hairless mice via a decrease in thymine dimer positive cells and an up-regulation of p53-p21/Cip1 in epidermis.

Disclaimer: I am not a specialist, expert, professional or doctor of any kind. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with any company mentioned on this site. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.

Join Me As I Try Organic-Sulfur (MSM)

While trying to work on my health over the last couple of years, I have been learning about different healthy, natural ways to detox and get myself into a state of good health. I've came a long way, but still need work on a few issues in particular, most of which I have shared with ya'll.  So, I've experimented with several different things  and lately, I've felt the need to "detox" due to a series of vaccines I was given that are dangerous & I wanted to try and get some of that out of my system, if possible. So that led me to learning about MSM -- Organic Sulfur and the benefits of it.

After doing some searching of my own, I came to the realization that like everything else in the world, not all MSM is that great. Some contain additives that could be harmful for one thing, but also may block the absorption of the MSM all together, which makes buying and using it totally pointless! Then there's the MSM that's produced from petrleum derivatives.

That's a pain, but the good thing is, I found Organic-Sulfur.com which has a great deal of good, trustworthy information about their product, which can be read online. I got in touch with them & have had amazing, super helpful conversations and was well-informed on how I should use the MSM for my own specific health concerns and everything. I was really impressed with how helpful Ralph from Organic-Sulfur has been to me.  

Organic-Sulfur's Organic Sulfur (say that 9 times over) is free of any additives and fillers. It's pure, organic sulfur made in the USA.



What is MSM?

MSM is the 4th most plentiful mineral in the body, and so essential to life that it is found in every cell of virtually every animal and plant. 

MSM is an organic white sulfur powder that  comes from the ocean. It's a food found in plants, meats, dairy and vegetation. It's water-soluble. 


Most commercially available MSM does not contain 34% sulfur. Some contain no sulfur by observation, and some contained none, by observation according to Organic Sulfur Study. 

Organic Sulfur is MSM precipitated from DMSO into a coarse crystal flake and not processed any further nor does it have anti caking or flow agents added. 

MSM can come in the form of crystals, powder or flakes. I have been using the crystals.



As I said, the company I got them from is Organic-Sulfer. They have pure organic sulfur, so there's no worries with it being other stuff and not the real deal. Their's is also made in the USA.

There is a little bit of a difference between the powder, flakes and crystals. I have only tried the crystals that I'm using now, but have learned the difference from the Organic-sulfur webpage and the person I've been in touch with from there, who has been more than kind and  helpful to me. He even gave me information pertaining to my specific health concerns, so this made it so much easier. Another thing I love is they don't hesitate to give you an abundance of information on how to use it, how much to use and what to expect.

Here is what Organic Sulfur's website says about the difference between the MSM powder, flakes and crystals:

The bag of Organic Sulfur, opened. You can kind of see those lovely crystals.

Some people prefer the powder form because it dissolves quicker. On a side note, I have been using the crystals and they dissolve perfectly. I just add one teaspoon per drink so far and hardly even have to stir it and they dissolve. 

"We are told it is identical to the Crystals except that the powder is ground finer. Because it is 99.9% pure (with the balance being moisture), the powder tends to form clumps. That's a good sign. It tells you that no free flow agents were added. The clumping seems to vary with time of year, and the amount of humidity present at time of manufacture. Should it form clumps, you just scrape it with a spoon or break up the clumps as you use it."


 Others prefer the crystals because they aren't so prone to clumping since they aren't as fine. "So they are a better form of organic sulfur if it won't be used immediately. They just take a little longer to dissolve."

"But there's a bigger reason some prefer the Crystals / Flakes: They say they get slightly better results than with the Powder. The reasoning is that the Crystals or Flakes remain exactly as they naturally formed when they were made. And the grinding represents a very slight processing. So purists prefer Organic Sulfur in its unground form.

We haven't personally seen a difference in effectiveness one way or the other, so we carry both and let you decide. To see for yourself, if you have a preference, you can order a pound of each."


Dosage/How To Use Organic-Sulfur




  

The Organic Sulfur from Organic-Sulfer.com comes in a resealable bag with instructions right on the front, which was really handy. It says:

Contains 16 ounces (454 grams)

Suggested use: 1/2 teaspoon dissolved in liquid in the morning and afternoon as the body eliminates excess in about 12 hours. You may start with less and increase to 1/2 heaping teaspoon or more, or use as directed by by a health professional. Some people gradually increase to take much more.


1 heaping teaspoon = about 5 grams. 

On the instructional sheet of paper that comes with the bag of Organic Sulfur, it says that it's been suggested that taking about 1,000 milligrams of Organic Sulfur per 30 pounds of body weight is good. There's a dosage chart too, so this makes it easier to know how much you should take.

 The chart shows that for someone or an animal up to 30 pounds, 1/8 teaspoon in the a.m. and p.m. is a good dosage. 

31-60 pounds, 1/4 teaspoon in the a.m. and p.m. 
61-90 pounds = 3/8 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m. 
91-120 pounds = 1/2 teaspoon in a.m and p.m.
121-150 pounds = 5/8 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m. 
151-180 pounds = 3/4 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m.
181-210 pounds  = 7/8 teaspoon in a.m and p.m.
211-240 pounds = 1 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m. 
241-270 pounds =  1-1/8 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m.
271 - 300 pounds = 1-1/4 teaspoon in a.m. and p.m.

It is also recommended that you take vitamin C when you're taking Organic Sulfur. This dosage is also available on the chart. I've not included it here, but basically, for someone up to 30 pounds in weight should take around 250 mg of vitamin C and someone 31-60 pounds should take 500 mg of vitamin C and so on. I personally try to get 1,000 mg of Vitamin C daily, but I don't always make it to that amount. I usually add that Emergen-C or Super-C stuff to my MSM water, so that way I'm getting both the vitamin C and MSM in one.

Organic Sulfur dissolves well in water, juice or other beverages -- just stir occasionally. Never use hot liquids, as heat breaks down the Organic Sulfur once it's dissolved. Body temperature is fine. You can also dissolve about a tablespoon or more per gallon of water, tea, or other drinks that you'll drink throughout the day, with no need to wait for it to dissolve in each glass.

*Consistently taking it is more important than taking exactly the same amount daily.

*Its toxicity level is close to that of water, so I feel very safe using MSM.  

*Warm liquids are okay to use with MSM, but Organic-Sulfur.com recommends avoiding hot because while some think heat won't break down the organic sulfur molecule, some think it will. So it's best to not use hot liquids, just in case heat will mess with it.

The Benefits & Reasons for Using Sulfur 


There are tons of benefits of using MSM. It has been used by vets and humans for years. MSM helps the body absorb more nutrients (vitamins and minerals,) so it's beneficial for overall health, in general as well as providing relief from particular issues. Some things that MSM can do include:

- Healthy hair, nails and skin. 

- MSM is an analgesic.

- Anti-parasitic. This is one of MSM's properties that I love! From what I've read, a pretty large number of the population in the US actually do have some type of parasites. Some don't know it! So MSM can for eliminate parasites in people and animals, although dosing will vary for everybody and every pet. 

- Provide great relief from conditions such as emphysema, diabetes, help with fatigue, relief of muscular aches and pains, arthritis, bursitis, hip dysplasia, rheumatism, muscle spasms, lupus, scleroderma, sinusitis, gingivitis, etc.


- An increase in effeciency of vitamins and minerals (since vitamins and minerals require MSM in order for the body to fully utilize them instead of  part of a lot of the vitamins and minerals we get going to waste.

- When taken with Vitamin C, MSM can bring relief from easy bruises, chronic nosebleeds, varicose veins. Also, when combined with Vitamin C, MSM helps the body build new, healthy cells, reduce scar tissue and wrinkles, help the skin be more elastic, helps hair and nails grow stronger,

- Can reduce inflamation, eye irritation, headaches, cramps, muscle pain caused by hormonal imbalance like PMS. 

- Relieve constipation or control chronic constipation.

- Lab studies done on rodents has shown that MSM helps to delay the onset of cancer, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Here's something I think is so awesome: MSM can help reduce snoring! I never knew you could stop snoring besides by using the old clothes pin method!


- Can improve mental alertness. 

-Improves circulation.

- Helps with the formation of  connective tissue necessary for joint flexibility and elasticity. 

- Breaks up calcium deposits, when used with magnesium powder.

- Can possibly help relieve allergies and possibly even eliminate them totally. This would be especially true for someone who has allergies due to something like candidiasis. Allergies they didn't have before developing it.

- MSM increases the amount of oxygen available to the body.  

- Helps release toxins built up and stuck in cells.

- MSM also increases the blood's circulation of oxygen and helps oxygen get into the blood.

- Makes the cell walls more permeable, which in turn increases energy levels.

-Keloid reduction!  
I just now read that MSM can help reduce keloids! This is awesome because I have had a very large, painful keloid on the back of my ear since I was 12 or 13! It came up right after a piercing and I had surgery on it that didn't work because as the dr. was cutting and I was feeling everything despite the anethesia, he found that I wasn't lying about feeling the cutting -- there was actually nerves bundled up in there! He sent me from there to a hospital. After that, I had to return to the hospital once a week for for steroid shots, for the rest of my school year that year. It did reduce the size of the keloid, but after the surgery, it got to where I'd have random sharp, horrible pain in it. Felt exactly like it was being cut all over again! Before I ever had anything done about it, it didn't just cause me pain out of the blue. Not unless it was injured or hit or I slept on it. But it continued to get bigger and bigger. Over the last 2 years since I've made changes to my diet to help with the endometriosis and IBS (aloe vera, I think was a big part) I noticed the keloid got smaller. Also, another thing I started to notice over the years -- when I'd have extreme pain from endometriosis, it seemed my keloid would start hurting with that super sharp pain. Sometimes it was blinding. I put those two together and thought perhaps the keloid (scar tissue) was somehow linked to the endometriosis (also a scar tissue thing as well)! Then my dr. said they could be. 

Anyways, my point is that I didn't even know that MSM could help keloids! I'd given up all hope on the keloid since the steroid shots back when I was in high school. I'm just now learning that MSM can help with keloids. This is awesome! I'll have to keep an eye on it and see if there's a change. It's just too bad I don't have a photo of the keloid back when it was HUGE. I think I'll take one tomorrow as a before and after thing. That will be fun.

 

* For sinusitis, I believe people mix a solution of water and MSM and use it as a nasal rinse -- you'd want to know specific instructions for doing this, though. And for gingivitis, you can apply it to the gums.


Another thought I had, if it repels fleas on pets, I wonder if it'll work as a bug spray for humans? I'm gonna try it when I get in the pool because we have those blasted no see um's that attack me like mad when I get out there. So I will see if it keeps those away.

Did I mention that a lot of people spray it on their skin too, mostly on their abdomens? I have been spraying my face before bed (since your skin does the most repairing while you sleep) to help with the typical skin concerns. I like it for this, too.




The bag I have here from Organic-Sulfur, is a resealable, 1 pound bag of Organic Sulfur crystals. What I've been doing is filling my large water bottle (holds 3 1/2 cups of water maximum) with 3 teaspoons of MSM (which I've worked up to. I started off with a smaller amount. I've gone into detail about that in this post) and give the bottle a good shake. I can see the crystals swim around in there. Sometimes, if I've added a lot, I'll have to give it a few shakes, but they really dissolve quite well.


Just a little background, history of my health "issues" or whatever you call it:If you're a frequent reader, you may have read my journey with the dental issues and endometriosis and IBS. I had some dental issues that began last year -- I think October 2012. I seen a dentist and even shared those experiences here (one half-done root canal, 3 temporary fillings and one wisdom tooth extracted later) and here we are. So I started researching everything I could so I could better care for my teeth and health in general, but was mostly focusing on my teeth. I have dealt with endometriosis since my teen years (I'm 23 now) and IBS came along shortly after the endometriosis. What a lovely pair those two are! 

You guys may also recall the many posts I've shared about my journey with the endometriosis and IBS and the measures I've taken to get better (aloe vera was a big help there, which I've shared in many posts.) Last year, when I began trying to help my teeth issues, I came across tons of information, books, articles and people who have shared their testimonials on what's helped them get their dental health in check and what hasn't. I read Dr. Judd's book "Teeth Total" and decided to join some of the people in the world who don't use toothpaste, but soap or something else safe and natural. I have not touched toothpaste since August 2012! 

I could go on and on and on. I could talk about all the things I've learned about vaccine ingredients like mercury and other harmful stuff we're given, but I will try to not do that and only share the important parts.

I first learned of MSM (Organic Sulfur) when I was sharing my own dental journey with others on the blog Mint & Chili. Some people had said they started adding it to their drinks and even adding it to water in a spray bottle and spraying it on their skin (abdomen, usually).

More recent issues

What really sent me over the edge again, after learning about MSM (Organic Sulfur) was when I got this last vaccine not even a full month ago. It's the Gardasil vaccine, which has caused me many issues. I had had the first 2 vaccines and experienced scary, bad, long-lasting effects from it. So when I went back to the dr. and they asked did I want the third and last Gardasil vaccine, I said "no, I will never take that shot again." I explained why, they left me alone for the rest of the year. However, I went back for an annual thing at the beginning of May (same dr. Same nurse) And she comes in with the vaccine in her hand! I told her I did NOT want it, explained again why. No idea why they didn't make note of that in my file. But she spent about 30 minutes telling me these great things about the vaccine, and finally, I broke down and said "fine, I'll just take it." That's my fault for being weak and not being good at standing up and being firm. She said "I can't make you get it... Actually, I can, but... The choice is really yours." I asked about ingredients -- she must not have known them. She only said "I got the shot for my daughters, so you see?" Then I said "but I had bad side effects and worry that I'll end up like many people with paralaysis or who's health goes quickly down-hill right after the vaccines." She acted like that was crazy. Said it was super rare.

So that's just the brief of that story. I got home, started having some moderate issues soon after the vaccine & began keeping a journal and writing it all down. I also had sudden stomach problems again -- resembling the horrible IBS that kept me so down in the past that I couldn't even leave the house for long periods of time. I knew there was no reason for it since I'd kept myself in check with the aloe and other good things like garlic. 

Not more than a few days and I knew for sure I had some IBS issues -- candida overgrowth to be exact. I then started having other... more private problems. It was a yeast infection! So I thought it was strange that I had the yeast problem both in my stomach and ... ! So I got to looking into it & learned that yeast is an ingredient in the HPV vaccine Gardasil! The nurse clearly either did not know that yeast was an ingredient or forgot that my file explains all the issues I've had and meds I'd been given for the problem of IBS/candidiasis! So she should've known that I would basically be considered "yeast sensitive." 


Moving on...

That last vaccine and all the crappy symptoms had me wanting to quickly do something about it. I remembered the MSM (Organic Sulfur) and wanted to read up on the different kinds available. Well, I ended up learning even more about MSM from someone at Organic-Sulfur and also trying it too! I've been using Organic Sulfur almost all week now.


I started off the very first day with just a teaspoon mixed into my flavored, filtered water. I didn't want to over-do it since I hadn't taken it before & wasn't 100% sure if I'd feel any effects. The good news is, there aren't any bad side effects that come with it -- I read up on it. From what I read, unless you take way more than the recommended dose, you shouldn't have anything out of the ordinary. But if you do take a lot more than recommended, the common things you may experience are diarrhea, rash, minor cramping headache. Taking it with food is supposed to decrease the chances of those things happening. 

I just added the MSM to my regular carry-around water bottle, which holds 3 1/2" cups of water. I fill it up when I wake up and drink on it all day. So I just did the same thing, only I added the Organic Sulfur to it. This way, I could just drink it throughout the day rather than all at once.

Since it went so well the first day, I increased it to a tablespoon the next day, and then about 2 teaspoons (some days a bit more), which I've been doing ever since. I plan to continue at this amount, to equal the recommended 1/2 "heaping teaspoon in the morning and afternoon." I think just adding the full daily amount to my water bottle and drinking close to half when I get up and the rest by the end of the night is what works well for me so far. This way, I don't have to worry about forgetting to refill and drink at night, since the bottle is still there and waiting to be drank when night-time comes. 

I've read that different people do it differently, as they find exactly what works for them.

 I chose to do it slowly because given my sensitive stomach these days (especially with the new flare-up due to extreme stress and the vaccine), I was afraid I'd experience some stomach discomfort since it had become sensitive again. As I said though, I had no issues at all, so I have been able to take it and increase to a nice amount without any problem. I'm so excited about this and all the benefits that are coming. 

Okay, I know you guys are wondering how it tastes. Surprisingly, the first few times I drank the water, flavored water or other beverage with MSM mixed in, I couldn't notice any taste besides the drink's normal taste. It's only after I'd swallowed and a minute later, I sometimes noticed a very different, but hardly noticeable taste on the back of my tongue. I don't notice it every time I take a drink. 

Most people say it tastes bitter. I didn't notice a taste of bitterness until I upped my dosage to 3 teaspoons & then, it was definitely a bitter-like taste. Not intense, but I ended up adding more flavored type beverages in it to help mask it. I've used it mixed with those Emergen-C packets so that I get the Vitamin C along with the MSM. Adding Vitamin C while you're taking MSM is supposed to increase the benefits. I've also used a similar version of Emergen-C called Super-C. It's basically the same.

I don't really let the drink linger in my mouth. I just swallow it quickly. It isn't horrible & you can adjust it by adding less or adding more of a flavored drink in to help. I do notice a slight aftertase a few seconds after I swallow, right on the back of my tongue. I can't easily describe it, but it's somewhat like a vegetable-y taste. Like boiled broccoli or asparagus, maybe? The good thing is, the aftertaste goes right away almost as soon as it comes, and doesn't hang around on my tongue. I've heard this aftertaste described as a "clean" one & I have to agree with that. It is a clean taste.

 Also, I once put one of the crystals in my mouth and it had the tiniest taste -- slightly bitter. I'd describe the bitterness to be somewhat close to that you taste when you accidentally get a little of pecan shell in your pecan nuts. Not near as bitter or noticeable though. 

Another interesting thing I noticed was as the little crystal dissolved in my mouth, the roof of my mouth and spot on my tongue where it dissolved felt cool -- like coldness. I thought that was neat. 

The taste I mentioned on the back of my tongue does not stay or linger around after swallowing. Just sometimes I notice it for a second right before it goes away. I figure most people wouldn't even notice this. 

It seems I'm the only one to experience this with MSM, but right after I drink it, I feel a slight burning sensation in my stomach. It's similar to how it feels when I take a BC Powder on an empty stomach, but nowhere near as intense. It's actually like a cool sensation in my stomach, but I have gotten to where I remember to keep something to eat nearby when I drink it such as crackers & it seems to do the trick. It could be because I take BC Powders sometimes, and that is what's causing the little burny sensation.

I've experimented by adding MSM to several different drinks. Mostly, I stick with water and a Vitamin C mix, like the Emergen-C I mentioned above. I have heard of people adding it to everything from Coke-type drinks to coffee and even herbal tea, which is something I will try soon (the herbal tea). I have not tried coke or coffee with MSM, but I've tried it with tea & water-flavorers like Crystal Light, and those are pretty good for masking the bitterness. It's a very strange taste, MSM. It's definitely unlike anything else. 

I've read that some people enjoy a glass of water/MSM just as much as a coffee drinker enjoys coffee. I've yet to become really in love with the taste, but find it easier and easier to drink every day. Some have described the taste of MSM as having a "bite," and that does make sense. 

If you happened to really hate the taste, you can always add more water or other drink & just drink more of it instead of adding a small amount of liquid and getting it over with sooner.

The crystals are also interesting to look at, in my opinion. Or maybe I'm just easily entertained. They're so white and sparkly looking. I like to dump them in my hand sometimes before adding it to my drink and watching them dissolve in there.

I've been doing a lot of reading on MSM when I get some free time & have been trying to keep up with a forum where people discuss their experiences with it. It seems most people find that MSM gives them energy & they can't even drink it at night because it keeps them awake! For some crazy reason, it does the opposite for me. I get real sleepy when I drink it. I make sure I do drink it right before bed. I can't figure out why it has that affect on me. I have read that MSM is a kind of muscle-relaxer, so maybe that is why. Either way, I enjoy the nice sleep I have been getting! 

Another effect I notice from using MSM is that I wake up feeling ready and energized. It's amazing to wake up without feeling draggy and it seems I've not woken up with immediate headaches like I normally did.

I've been drinking MSM for about three weeks, I think. I didn't notice big things right away, but I definitely didn't expect to feel energized & better overall like I do already.

MSM can thin the blood, so that's something to keep in mind if you take blood thinners.

I also read that MSM is 7 times safer than table salt, if that gives you more of an idea of how safe the stuff is. 

"In a study done on humans, MSM was shown to have no negative side effects at 1 g/kg body weight. That means around 68 g/day for a 150-pound person. In tests on animals, the LD-50 test findings were for more than 20 g/kg body weight."

"Long term studies have shown no negative drawbacks to MSM. People who take it regularly tend to have fewer colds and viral infections, but there have been no studies done on this effect." (from http://users.rcn.com/ereshkigal/msm.htm)

P.S. Some people tend to think MSM is something like "sulfa-drugs," which some people are allergic to. I don't think I've ever taken "sulfa-drugs," but I just wanted to note that MSM is not  a sulfite, so if you have bad reactions to sulfa-drugs, it is not an indication that MSM will do the same.

As I said, I've had no negative reactions to the Organic Sulfur. If anything, I feel more energized and perhaps even had less of those pesky late-night cravings, which I've been thinking may be due to the MSM for some reason. I was having intense and many late-night cravings. Chocolate, cake, cookies, toast, anything! But I have noticed a major decrease in those in the last 4 days. Just thought I'd mention that. I certainly ain't complaining about that possible effect. 

In a way, I think it could be due to the MSM already helping with the candida that came back into my system from that vaccine. When I'm having a "flare-up", I always have these cravings, so I figure the MSM is doing its work on me, which has resulted in less of those. I got to where I was eating here and there all night long and in the morning too! 

I will update you guys as I go along and see more improvements.