The Natural Solution for Dry, Damaged Hair

Are you a flat-iron lovin', chemical-laden shampoo usin' girl who can't resist a new color or highlights, even though your hair will suffer?

If you're like me, you want to be able to style and color your hair without having to suffer the severe damage that often follows. The good news is, there is hope for our damaged strands. And it smells oh, so good!

This gal swapped the chemical free shampoos and their satisfying, foamy sulfates for natural versions. I swore off re-highlighting my hair, even while my roots continued to look worse by the day.

I even put down the flat iron for some time and still take time off from it.

All this sacrifice and I'm sorry to say it, but I failed.

After months of these sacrifices, my hair wasn't much better.

The dry, crispy-ness was still there. The split ends? Almost as bad as before. And God have mercy, do my grown-out, lackluster highlights look like garbage!

My hair is in bad shape, folks. 

I just want to touch up my drab strands with some highlights, for Pete's sake! But I'm terrified that the super short hairs on the top of my head (short from the breakage and damage they went through in the past) are going to be even shorter and more damaged!

I was about to get desperate when a sliver of hope appeared at my door... Or should I say in my inbox. 
 

It was an opportunity to try a very special restorative hair mask and see if it wouldn't give my hair the healing it needs. 

So I quickly began using this new intensive hair mask by Shielo and let me just say, this stuff goes far beyond your drugstore "restorative" hair care products. I'm impressed with the ingredients -- like shea butter and avocado and olive oil. It's safe to proclaim that my hair is already on its way to better health!

Fate?

I'd say so.

That brings me to this post. I've found a piece of hair heaven and it's only fair that I share. First, let me tell you what this bottle of hair heaven's all about...

Shielo's Intensive Hair Mask uses organic ingredients that, as the bottle says, repairs, hydrates, and restructures damaged hair. Like mine! 

 ..."restores elasticity, freshness and suppleness to dry, chemically treated or damaged hair. The mask instantly repairs to make hair look fresh, moisturized and free flowing. It is a concentrated formula of organic ingredients, complex peptides and highly moisturizing agents that make hair manageable and beautiful."

Note-worthy Features:

• Sheilo is a cruelty-free company who's product labels boast the "Beauty Without Cruelty" logo and a "made with certified organic ingredients" stamp to boot.

• Paraben free and contains peptides and natural plant proteins.

• Great for all damage, distressed, and color-treated hair (just what I've needed.)

• Perfect as a pre-dye treatment. This can be used a couple days before a dye/bleach treatment since it moisturizes and nourishes hair and seems like it may help prepare it for the harsh damage that will ensue. 

•  Safe for bleached and dyed hair. The lemon peel extract helps keep your bleached strands bright and prevents brassiness and color darkening that typically occurs over time.

• Super easy to use. Just apply to damp hair, leave on for 3-5 minutes and rinse! I love the ease of use because it means I'll actually get to use it. It doesn't get any easier than this since I can apply it before I shower, then rinse it off as I wash. I like to apply it at the beginning of my shower, then rinse at the end that way it has as much time to absorb into my strands as possible. For normal hair, Shielo recommends using the mask once weekly and twice per week for extremely damaged hair.

•  Washes out easily and no residue is left behind. (Have you ever used an oily hair mask only to find it darn near impossible to wash out of your hair? Not fun.)

• It smells di-vine! Seriously. If you're into nice-smelling hair care, then you're in for heaven in the smell department alone with this stuff. Forget its hair super-powers, I wanted to slather this stuff on as a body lotion. I really, really came *this* close to doing that. Since it arrived on my birthday (awesome, huh?) and I was already getting ready to leave (the S/O took me out to this awesome pancake joint), I had to make myself set the bottle down before I ended up with intensely restored skin. I couldn't resist, though, so I squeezed a tiny drop onto my fingers, rubbed it in a bit, then swiped it over the already-highlighted, highly damaged pieces of hair right before I went bat-crap and pulled out my flat-iron!

I know, I broke the no-heat rule, but hey. It was my b-day and I wanted sleek hair. Plus, it gave me an excuse to use a little of this hair mask. You'd do the same thing, so don't judge!

 Results

Before:

My embarrassingly damaged hair before using the hair mask -- washed and air-dried and completely un-styled and free of any products. It's very frizzy-looking and the split and damaged ends are very noticeable. At the time of this photo, I couldn't run my fingers through my hair without it breaking and pulling out. I had to carefully comb it and then tame and style it.

I almost considered not sharing a picture of my hair "before" since I don't allow most people to see my frizz-ball in its natural state, but... the insane difference between the before and after using the hair mask was simply too great to hide. So I shall let you see this embarrassing ball of crazy on my head just for amazement sake:

 

After:

I've attempted to snap a quick photo of my just-treated, washed, and freshly pony-tailed hair. This was no easy task as I had trouble getting all of my hair into the pictures and they turned out awkward, but I hope they get my point across.

The results (as if you can't tell for yourself)

Shiny! Smooth! Soft!

The cloud of fluffy frizz is tamed and presentable.
 

Underside of my hair. My split ends needed to be trimmed in these photos, but the overall feel and appearance greatly improved.

The dry, crispy-feeling ends are now silky and totally pet-able (just ask my significant other who forgets I'm not a cat.) 

Flat-ironed. The ends still need trimming, especially the bleached strands, but I've never had such shiny, soft, smooth textured hair as I do after using this mask.

 I can run my fingers through it without the sound of crackling followed by a cloud of broken hairs tumbling to the ground.

After using the intensive hair mask, my hair is 20 times more manageable. I also find it much easier to style. Yes, even with heat tools! I can't be good all the time, so I took this opportunity to see how well my hair could look after flat-ironed now that the mask has improved it. I cranked up my Theory and flew through the task quicker than I typically am able to. It went smoother since my hair wasn't a mess of dry, crispy frizz. It also looked nicer with its new shine and healthy appearance.

My hair smells di-vine! 

All in all, I call this a huge success.

  Note-Worthy Ingredients in the Shielo Hair Mask:

This restorative hair mask is chock full of useful ingredients. I'll mention a few of those note-worthy fellas below.

Safflower, Avocado, and Olive Fruit Oil: Safflower holds in moisture and improves overall health of hair while avocado oil nourishes, improves strength and shine, and olive fruit oil increases suppleness, shine, and protects from damage. 

Hexapeptide-11: A skin conditioning peptide.

White Tea Leaf Extract: Moisturizes and conditions. Antioxidant rich, protects from sun damage.

Shea Butter: Deeply moisturizing and conditioning, locks in moisture, and is commonly used to treat itchy, irritated scalp and dandruff. Since shea butter absorbs into the hair shaft, it can help provide some protection against heat damage.

Sunflower Seed Extract: A conditioner with an added bonus -- it has a cleansing effect.

Goldenseal Root Extract:  Rich in vitamins and minerals, Goldenseal Root Extract promotes healthy hair and can soothe away dandruff and other scalp inflammation.

Hydrolyzed Algae Extract: Algae acts as a clarifier that helps remove hair product build up, impurities, and excess oiliness. It nourishes, rejuvenates, softens, and improves hair's elasticity.

Burdock Root Extract: Burdock root is used by many herbalists to promote hair growth. Its Vitamin A content helps strengthen hair and improve overall health.

Mallow Flower Extract: Hydrates and re-moisturizes shaft of hair.

Full List of Ingredients:

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Safflower Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane,Cyclotetrasiloxane, Avocado Oil, Olive Fruit Oil, Hexapeptide-11, White Tea Leaf Extract, Sunflower Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Shea Butter, Lemon Fruit Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Horsetail Extract¹, Golden Seal Root Extract, Mallow Flower Extract¹, Hydrolyzed Algae Extract, Burdock Root Extract¹, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Apple Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Lemon Peel Extract¹, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Sugar Cane Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Cactus Extract, Amodimethicone, Betaine, Butylene Glycol, C11-15 Pareth-7, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Cysteine, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Dimethiconol, Divinyldimethicone/ Dimethicone Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Laureth-9, Panthenol, PEG-45M, Polyquaternium-37, Polysorbate 60, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, PG Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Quaternium-91, Sodium PCA, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Trideceth-12, Wheat Amino Acids, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance, Yellow 6 (CI 1598)², Red 40 (CI 16035)², Blue 1 (CI 42090)²

I hope you've found this useful. Share in the comments what you use for damaged hair. And if you're interested in this Shielo Hair Mask I'm using, you can find it here.

Relax Already - Magnificent Herbal Sleep Aid from Earth Turns

I've had the lovely opportunity to try a few products that are available at Earth Turns, who happen to be a very friendly company that carries a variety of really amazing quality products like supplements and natural or herbal products, and even a beauty department. All of the products Earth Turns carry are manufactured under Current Good Manufacturing Process Standards and are natural, safe and effective. I've recently been trying samples of an herbal sleep aid they carry called "Relax Already." 

Before I get into the review for the Relax Already supplement (which I'm loving, by the way), I wanted to take a second to include that Earth Turns has an A+ BBB rating, and at the moment, they're doing free shipping for  US orders! You really can't beat free shipping these days.

Relax Already is a dietary supplement manufactured in America, by StoneAge Wellness and designed to not only help you sleep, but also to relax your muscles and relieve stress. If you've never used a natural or herbal based sleep product, then you'll be in for a big surprise because ingredients like Valerian root, passion flower and lemon balm are highly impressive sleep and relaxation aids. These ingredients also help relieve stress wonderfully and relax tense muscles.  What I love most about Relax Already is that I can take them and sleep amazingly well, but they don't leave me feeling out of my head or sluggish.  Also that they're so safe, natural and without negative side effects is a main reason I like them. Store-bought sleep aids have always left me feeling really out of it, and the effects leave me sluggish and irritable the next day. With such clean ingredients and effective herbs, Relax Already never leaves me feeling off or sluggish. In fact, I've woken up feeling better than I typically do. And you just can't beat the deep, relaxed sleep that comes about 40 minutes after taking it.

Taking only once capsule of Relax Already put me to sleep gently for about 6 hours before I ever woke up. After waking and having a snack, I went back to bed and read for a few minutes before falling back to sleep for another 4 hours. Waking up was easy and I felt wide awake once I'd slept off Relax Already's awesome effects. I didn't even remember dreaming for those first 6 hours. 

What Makes Relax Already so Effective:
Relax Already contains 100 milligrams of magnesium per serving. Magnesium itself is helpful for getting sleep since it relaxes the muscles.

A serving of Relax Already contains 1150 milligrams of ValFlora, StoneAge Wellness' proprietary blend of Valerian Root, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, Chamomile & Cramp Bark.  This kind of blend is sure to relax and promote sleep due to Valerian Root being an anti-anxiety herb as well as a centuries old sleep remedy.

Lemon Balm also has anti-anxiety properties and reduces stress, improves appetite, eases pain and discomfort, promotes sleep, eases bloating, gas and indigestion. When combined with herbs like Chamomile and Valerian (just like in the Relax Already supplement), Lemon Balm is soothing, calming and promotes relaxation.  Lemon Balm also has antibacterial properties. It also may improve cognitive function and help with Alzheimer's symptoms.

Passion Flower has a calming effect and has been used as an aid for insomnia and anxiety.

Chamomile, with its mild sedative like effects have also been used for centuries to promote calming, help sleep and reduce anxiety, promote relaxation and reduce stress.

Cramp Bark  is a muscle relaxant and anti-spasmodic Cramp Bark, interestingly enough, also relieves uterine cramping.

Note: Many of the herbs in this product are helpful for digestive pains and discomforts, too.

The rest of the ingredients:
Vegetable cellulose (capsules), rice flour, vegetable stearate.

What I Love About Relax Already:

• No artificial ingredients.
• Safe and impressively effective.
• Vegetarian, and the capsules are made of vegetable cellulose.
• Free of wheat, dairy, soy, corn, sugar and yeast.

•  Earth Turns' Price for the product. It's rare to see a supplement with these ingredients for such a decent price. At the moment, a bottle of 60 capsules is available on Earth Turns for only $11.49. That's coming from me, a big tight-wad.

• The manufacturer of Relax Already, StoneAge Wellness uses tested ingredients for purity and ingredient potency.

•  Relax Already is manufactured to cGMP (current Good Manufacturing) standards. You can read more about what that means here.

How to use Relax Already:

The packet says to take 2 capsules about 30 minutes before bedtime. I find that I only need one capsule to get the job done.

 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.

Wish Garden Herbs Serious Relaxer

 

Wish Garden Herbs is an Herbal Remedy manufacturer that supplies herbal concoctions for everything and everyone. 

  

Serious Relaxer is an herbal concoction that's good for muscle tension as it helps to support tight, painful muscles and joints. Serious Relaxer has a number of benefits, but the main ones are for relaxation, joint and muscle relief. It also helps support natural sleep cycles. Serious Relaxer has a calming effect on the body, so it can be used before bedtime to help with sleep.It's also a wonderful remedy for anxiety and nervousness, insomnia and more. Other benefits one might notice could be those of the urinary tract, help with headaches and more.

Serious Relaxer is also a wonderful remedy to help with menstrual pain, IBS pains and insmonia. 6 of the ingredients are known to help with insomnia and sleeplessness. At least 2 of the ingredients in Serious Relaxer are known as anti-spasmodics. A few of them are also helpful for intestinal and digestive problems, so this is why I say it's great for IBS, and because it's helped my own! I will go into more detail about what each ingredient can do later.  5 of the ingredients are known to help decrease emotional tension and stress. Many of the ingredients are also diuretics. It's a wonderful alternative to sleep-aids and I find that it often does the trick for me almost as good as Unisom, and equally so if I take more than 2 drops!

This is a photo of the herbal remedy Serious Relaxer. Like most liquid herbs, it has a caramel color. Serious Relaxer is a thin liquid.

Using the glass dropper, you can easily measure out the amount of drops you want to add. 

How to use Serious Relaxer:

Add two to three (2-3) droppers in water or under the tongue as needed. If necessary, you can repeat after five minutes for full effect.

Taste


I am not going to say I've come to love and crave the taste of these bitter herbs, but they are not horrible & by mixing it into a drink or placing a few drops under my tongue and quickly chasing it with something like Dr. Pepper makes it more tolerable. The effects of Serious Relaxer are so worth the funky taste! I think it would do well in an herbal tea or black tea since those are kind of flavor-rich. I can even handle it in a medium-large glass of water, but drinking a large glass means I'll be up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. So for me, under the tongue works nicely. 

The aroma is really sweet, but also bitter at the same time. On my tongue, the taste is very sweet at first, and then I get a little "bite" of pepper or bitter-ness. It's very strong, but the taste quickly goes away after a few moments or quickly with a drink of water... or something stronger. 


I almost want to say it's a cinnamon taste, but it's much stronger than that. I just don't know quite how to describe it. It's one of the easiest to taste of herbal concoctions I have tried.

Ingredients in Serious Relaxer:

Active Ingredients: Wood Betony aerials, Wild Lettuce aerials, Valerian Root, Black Cohosh Root, Passionflower aerials, Scullcap aerials, Ginger root, Hops strobiles.

Other Ingredients: Apple Cider Vinegar, vegetable glycerine and organic, gluten-free alcohol.

Now, I want to discuss a little more about these awesome ingredients in Serious Relaxer! 

Wood Betony aerials: Also a mild sedative, it can relieve nervous stress and emotional tension. Promotes calmness, relaxation and supports nervous system. Wood Betony has astringent, nervine and bitter tonic properties. Has numerous uses including treatment of many physical diseases, pre-menstrual issues, alleviate menstrual pains, helps with urinary disorders,  diarrhea, throat, mouth and gum irritations, headaches, anxiety, etc. Wood Betony is pretty much a panacea in that it's been used to treat and help with so many ailments. It may help lower blood pressure. It boosts liver function and stimulates the digestive system. It also has a cleansing effect on the system, which is one reason people use the herb Wood Betony. 

Wood Betony is often used externally as well, to heal wounds and bruises. It can be used in the mouth as a gargle to help with inflammation of the tissues, throat issues, ulcers and gum problems.

Wild Lettuce aerials:  Mild sedative, anti-spasmodic and andodyne. Wild Lettuce aerials are used for spasmodic coughs and smoker coughs. In combination with the other active ingredient herbs in Serious Relaxer, Wild Lettuce aerials enhance the effects, causing the stuff to be helpful for anxiety, nervousness, nervous headache and insomnia. Wild Lettuce is known for its diuretic, hypnotic, digestive, sedative  and narcotic properties. This could be one reason why the Serious Relaxer is so good for pain. It's also been used in the treatment of swelling of the liver, flatulence and urinary tract ailments.

Valerian Root: A gentle tranquilizer. Relaxes the muscles. Was used by primeval Greeks to cure nausea and flatulence as well as urinary and pre-menstrual problems. In fact, they used it to "hasten the menstrual period!"  It was prescribed over 1,800 years ago for insomnia. It was also used as a diuretic, a remedy for intestinal and menstrual pain. It was used for nervous problems and even depression. Valerian Root can help relieve stress, insomnia and anti-spasmodic. It can help with cramps that occur in the abdomen and uterine. It's also been used to treat anxiety, emotional stress and tension. It's also been used to relieve IBS pains, headaches and bronchial spasms or persistant coughs.

Much like the other herbs, Valerian is also on external pains including joint and muscle aches.

Black cohosh Root:  Has sleep-inducing & sedative properties.Used to treat ailments such as sore throat, uterine issues and respiratory tract infection. It has been used to stimulate menstrual flow, cough suppresant, diuretic, anti-diarrheal. Has shown to be helpful for some gynecological issues. It's been found to lower blood pressure in rabbits and cats, but a study showed the result did not occur in dogs! Interesting. Humans showed some peripheral vasodilation. It was shown to be decrease menopausal symptoms. It's also been used to help with menstruals pains, depression, stomach pain, arthritis,etc. It is believed that Black Cohosh deceases the production of progesterone in the ovaries. People have reported improvements from excessive sweating, headache, vertigo, etc. Some studies have given the idea that it could be useful for osteoporosis (due to studies on rats that showed the herb affected the serum calcium and phosphate levels over their bone mineral density.) It's believed to balance the levels of estrogen and so much more. 

Passionflower aerials: Also has sedative, pain-killing and calming properties. An anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory. Used to reduce stress, panic, help anxiety, colic, muscle pain, asthma, muscle twitching, Parkinson's disease, shingles, migraine, hot flashes, cough, headaches, sciatica, abdominal pain. Improves blood circulation. Relieves tooth pain, menstrual pains, sleeplessness, muscle cramps.

Skullcap aerials: Has tranquilizing effects when combined with Valerian. Helps with muscular contractions,convulsions, menstrual contractions and  tremors. It's very helpful for the nervous system and helps with stress, insomnia, tension, anxiety, panic, headaches, depression, epilepsy. Has been used to heal patients who've been bitten by a venomous snake. Used for insect stings, rabies.

Ginger root: Used to improve "women's problems," Ginger has a healing effect on the female organs and instestines. Also used for sluggish metabolism, stress, bloating, morning sickness, and to promote healing of the uterus. Healing effects on the reproductive and digestive system because it stimulates circulation and supports blood supply to them.

Active Ingredients: Wood Betony aerials, Wild Lettuce aerials, Valerian root, Black Cohosh root, Passionflower aerials, Scullcap aerials, Ginger root, Hops strobiles - See more at: http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/herbal-remedies/Serious-Relaxer-Muscle-Tension-478#sthash.peiVSxH3.dpuf

Active Ingredients: Wood Betony aerials, Wild Lettuce aerials, Valerian root, Black Cohosh root, Passionflower aerials, Scullcap aerials, Ginger root, Hops strobiles - See more at: http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/herbal-remedies/Serious-Relaxer-Muscle-Tension-478#sthash.peiVSxH3.dpuf

Hops Strobiles: The same flowers used in beer. These have been used to help with sleeping, to treat anxiety, tensions, restlessness ADHD, excitability, nervousness, indigestion, irritability and more for years. Other uses for Hops: prostate, breast and ovarian cancer, tuberculosis, high cholesterol, intestinal cramps, bladder infections, colitis, ulcers, etc.

Hops has antibacterial properties. It can cause sleepiness/drowsiness, and Serious Relaxer will likely do this to most of us, so remember that! I definitely make sure it's near bed time before I ever take it. It is great for times when I'm having trouble sleeping & it sure beats using the harmful OTC or Rx drugs!

A little about Wish Garden Herbal Remedies:

Wish Garden Herbs are made by their staff of trained herbalists, and they use only certified organic and wild-harvested, quality-tested ingredients.

"WishGarden Herbal Remedies is an independent, woman-owned, family-run, community-conscious business devoted to helping people achieve health and balance through the use of natural medicinal botanicals, oils, salves, and teas. Our corporate headquarters, as well as the customer service center and distribution facility, is located in Boulder, Colorado."

PS. At the moment, for the month of June, Wish Garden Herbs is having a 10% off on select products as well as free shipping on domestic orders over $15. 

My Pearl Of The Day : Menstrex natural menstrual relief

Menstrex is for women with higher levels of discomfort during their menstrual cycle. Menstrex is a softgel that contains beneficial essential oils.

Enteric coated softgels, which has a special coating to people who are sensitive to essential oils. The softgel will dissolve in the intestines rather than the stomach, eliminating aftertaste.

Relieves:  menstrual cramps, bloating, nausea, headache.

Menstrex is a great supplement for females who experience discomfort during their menstrual cycle. The reason I love the stuff is because the company Natural Miracles gave people (like me!) a safe, natural remedy to relieve the painful symptoms that come with menstrual cycles. Not only that, but I love that they  use effective and beneficial ingredients from the earth, not chemicals and other ingredients that you see in commercial menstrual-relief products that have devastating effects on our health. These days, I’m always looking for natural remedies to any health issue or problem I encounter because in my experiences (as I’ve shared many times with you guys), natural remedies are what have worked, when dr prescribed medication didn’t come close. 

The box of Menstrex supplements come with 20 softgels, which is great because that’s enough to last most of us through more than just one or two bad menstrual cycles, so having 20 per box means you have quite a bit to keep on-hand for when the ugly menstrual monster strikes.

“Our unique patented formula for women who experience higher levels of discomfort during Their Menstrual Cycle and would prefer to take an Enteric Coated Formula. Menstrex® is Menstrual Magic® Advanced which has been enteric coated.  It takes only a few minutes longer to dissolve because it is released in the intestines rather than the stomach.  We created this enteric coated formula for women who desire a product that can be taken without food, and also for those not accustomed to taking natural herbal supplements.”

As the back of the box says,“If you are one of the 40 million women in America who suffer with menstrual symptoms, Menstrex is for you.”

Other amazing things to take note of :

-          Menstrex is an enteric-coated formula.

-          Is easy to digest and swallow.

-          Provides natural relief that is long-lasting.

-          No aspirin or caffeine.

-          Made in U.S.A.

-          Is free of wheat, gluten, dairy, soybeans, egg, shellfish, peanuts/tree nuts.

Take note of those things above – many people will be happy to know that Menstrex does not contain wheat, gluten, dairy, and the other things listed. I particularly and happy about it being free of gluten and wheat. As for those with dairy allergies/sensitivities, you’ll be happy that it doesn’t contain dairy. Those with peanut/tree nut allergies will be as well. The makers of Menstrex (Natural Miracles) really thought of everyone when they created this product.

I took the Menstrex as directed (2 softgels) to help with cramps, headache and other stomach discomfort. After about 15 minutes, I burbed and was kind of surprised because it tasted like lemons big time! I thought "did I eat anything with lemons?" I didn't, but interesting enough, I actually liked that lemon taste! After about 30 minutes, I burped again, but this time it tasted like lemon and mint. It's pretty tasty, I must admit. These lemony-mint burps keep coming and I also noticed a cool sensation in my esophagus  and stomach for about 30 minutes. It was neat because it was like a relieving sensation and a coolness in my stomach. Note: the cooling sensation I feel from Menstrex is nothing like a burning sensation from being hungry or taking aspirin type products. That's a painful burn. Menstrex just feels like I ate a lemon and peppermint, only a real peppermint that actually has the real peppermint in it, not the fake sugar candies. That was a neat and fun side-effect, but more importantly, my stomach is trucking through this week just fine! Not a single cramp since the day I took the last Menstrex, which was three days ago & strangely and rarely enough, I've not had any problems to have to take more yet. Usually, I'll experience a week long of stomach pain and intense bloating/discomfort. Pains that sometimes have me doubled-over, clasping whatever's nearby me and holding my breath (partly due to endometriosis) and I've managed with no cramps or stomach pain in the slightest since I took the Menstrex! Amazing!

I also have migraines, especially during my week-long menstrual cycle. This is that week and I suffered very badly three days ago. I did notice the pain let up some when I took the Menstrex, but it was a full-blown migraine by the time I took the Menstrex, so I wasn't able to fully get rid of it until I took a nasty ol' BC Powder. It seemed that combined with the Menstrex, that really did the trick. Then, last night and tonight I had a headache come on -- no migraines though, thank God.

Menstrex and other Natural Miracles products come with a paper in the box that gives you a lot of nice info about the product as well as a questionnaire you can fill out with your feedback and send back to them.

Here is some of the important tips that are on the paper:

Menstrual cramps  are caused by a natural substance called prostaglandins that are produced by cells in the uterine lining. These prostaglandins are responsible for the normal contractions that occur at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. For some, prostaglandins are produced in excess. When this happens, normal uterine contractions can become unpleasant cramps. Women with menstrual cramps have significantly higher levels of prostaglandins than other women.

More on the product Menstrex:

Natural Miracles uses  pharmaceutical grade essential oils that are safe and very effective.

Select species of Wild Greek Sage, Spanish Oregano, Peppermint, Fennel and Cumin are hand-picked and processed using centuries-old methods along with state of the art technology to preserve maximum therapeutic properties.

How Menstrex works to bring relief:

Independent laboratory analysis and toxicity testing is performed on eac h species of oil twice for efficacy and safety – once after distillation and once after combining in a softgel. These herbs are rich sources of anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic compounds. They work by helping  lower prostaglandin levels  and relax the smooth muscles of the wall, so your cramps are relieved for hours.

The awesome ingredients in Menstrex:

Greek Sage : Greek Sage has been used to treat a lot of problems. Like most herbs, Greek Sage has more than just a few uses/benefits. One of the popular uses for Greek Sage is as a tea, to treat inflammation of the mouth (sores and sore throats), respiratory infection and headaches. In the 4^th century, Sage was prescribed for gynecological issues.

 In the 1^st Century, sage was used as a diuretic, to inhibit external bleeding and promote menstrual discharge.  Sage was used by Medieval Europeans to promote wisdom and improve memory.  In the middle ages, it was used against cholera, epilepsy and fever. 

Sage has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. 

Spanish Thyme : Spanish Thyme  is a diuretic, tonic, stimulant, etc. It contains forskolin, which has been used to help with respiratory issues, lung disease, glaucoma. Spanish Thyme tea is used for its effectiveness to help with inflammation, its laxative effects and to help with digestive problems. The juice of the leaves are also used to treat asthma, heart/stomach pain, coughs, bronchitis, problems that affect the bladder, kidneys, urinary diseases, to remove poisons from the body, colic, vaginal discharge, menstruation, scurvy, expels gas from stomach and bowels relieves sour stomach.  

 The leaves are also used externally to help with common insect bites, stings and more. 

Peppermint Leaf :  Peppermint Leaf has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Peppermint leaf is resistant to fungus and work to prevent fungal spores. Contains flavonoids and antioxidants. It has been used as a pain reliever. In animals, peppermint has shown to be protect the liver against certain toxins. Peppermint has been used, and said to have good results in helping IBS (I’ve dealt with severe IBS for years, which I’ve only recently gotten under control). Peppermint has a relaxing effect on muscle tissue, so it could also be good for spasms – such as bowel spasms in people with IBS. Some studies make the suggestion that is even has anticarcinogenic effects. Peppermint supports liver function, digestion.

Peppermint contains vitamin A and C, potassium, iron, and fiber.

Fennel Seed :  Fennel Seed is an effective remedy for coughs and bronchitis as it loosens mucus in the chest/lungs.  It relieves abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, it helps with digestion and to turn food into energy rather than fat. It’s very helpful for menstrual problems as well as menopause due to Fennel’s estrogenic properties. It helps balance the female reproductive system and can also help improve mental clarity. 

Cumin Seed :  Cumin Seed has benefits for the digestive system and has the ability to stimulate pancreatic enzymes . It may have anticarcinogenic effects, helps detoxify the liver.  Cumin contains a high amount of iron and manganese, and also contains calcium and magnesium.

Suggested use:

Take two or three softgels, 1-3 times per day. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal with only a small amount of water. Do not exceed 8 softgels per day.

Supplement Facts

Serving size: 2 softgels.

Servings per container : 10.

Calories (per serving) : 5.6

Total carbs : 0.092 grams

Sugars : 0.092 grams.

Proprietary blend of essential oils of : 140 mg.

Greek Sage (leaf) :   + Daily Value not established.

Spanish thyme (leaf) : + Daily Value not established.

Peppermint (leaf ) :  +Daily Value not established.

Fennel (seed) :  +Daily Value not established

Cumin (seed) : +Daily Value not established

Other ingredients:  medium  chain tryglycerides (MCT oil) , extra virgin olive oil, gelatin, lemon oil, glycerin, purified water and enteric coating.

More information from the box of Menstrex:

The back is very informative, which I appreciate because I like to know as much as possible about a supplement I might take. The back gives you a lot of information about the Menstrex, lists what it does, how to use it and even the ingredients! I’ll include everything on the box below:

“Doctor recommended Menstrex is a special blend of essential oils formulated in enteric-coated, easy to swallow softgels that help relieve cramps, bloating, nausea, headache and other symptoms associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle. “

Essential oils in a softgel. 

Natural Miracles, Inc. developed this natural formula based on centuries old Mediterranean tradition. 

Using state of the art technology, we capture essential oils known for their therapeutic properties and combine them to create this natural exclusive formula to help alleviate menstrual symptoms. 

And then there’s the pregnancy disclaimer: “if you are pregnant or nursing, considering pregnancy or have a medical condition, consult your health care practitioner before using. Do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Keep out of reach of children. 

Store Menstrex in a cool, dry place. 

Studies

Also included on the informative paper:  “An independent study revealed that the essential oil blend in Menstrex had a dose dependent positive effect on the inhibition of prostaglandins. The results revealed 77.4++ 1/8% inhibition of PGF2a (prostaglandins). Another independent laboratory study was performed to determine the efficacy and safety of our pharmaceutical grade essential oils.”

Natural Miracles has another softgel that's designed to help with menstrual symptoms. It's very  similar to the Menstrex and is called Menstrual Magic. Menstrual Magic, I find, is about equally as effective as Menstrex. The only difference between the tow is Menstrex contains Fennel and Menstrual Magic does not.

Menstrual Magic sample packet

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Another product that I feel is going to be just as appreciated as Menstrex and Menstrual Magic is Menopause Magic. I personally can't say a whole lot about how exactly it does help Menopause as I've not gone through it. However, my mom has and she was impressed. She said she had better sleep when she took it and felt more comfortable -- night sweats can be real uncomfortable when you're trying to sleep! I can attest to that just due to having the flu once.

"Menopause Magic^® is a natural essential oil blend combined with other natural herbal ingredients to help relieve a woman’s menopause symptoms.  If you suffer with hot flashes, night sweats, headache, backache, joint discomfort, low libido, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and other symptoms associated with menopause including reduced bone density, then Menopause Magic^® is for you!  Just two softgels per day will support menopausal change."

Menopause Magic is similar to both Menstual Magic and Menstrex -- there is a difference in ingredients though, and after looking at them, I got the feeling that Menopause Magic would also benefit menstrual symptoms too! So if you happen to be out of the Menstrex or Menstrual Magic, I do think Menopause Magic would be useful. Let's take a look at the ingredients and supplement facts, though since they do vary more than a bit from the other two products...

Menopause Magic's Ingredients

Evening Primrose Oil  (140 mg)
Black Cohosh Standardized Extract (35 mg)
Calcium (25 mg)
Proprietary blend (87.5 mg)

Essential oils of:
Greek Sage (leaf)
Spanish Thyme (leaf)
Peppermint (leaf)
Fennel (seed)
Cumin (seed)
Anise (seed)

Supplement Facts:
 Calories : 3.00 (amount per serving)
 Total Fat : 0.20 g
 Total Carbs : 0.6 g
 Protein : 0.12

Serving size is 1 softgel.


 Notice that the Menopause Magic contains Evening Primrose Oil, which has an amazing reputation for being a very helpful herb for menstrual problems as well as menopause and even more. Menopause Magic also contains calcium, Anise and Black Cohosh Standardized Extract. I'll go into detail about their benefits. If you're interested in the others, just look above as they've been mentioned in this post.

 I don't have menopause, but my grandmother tried the Menopause Magic, and my mom too & my grandmother said it worked significantly well to improve symptoms of menopause. I asked if it helped with all the symptoms and she said yes, absolutely. As for my mom, she'd only taken it a couple times & said she slept better and noticed improvement, but didn't elaborate. So, for those who are curious about the Menopause Magic, I can say two of my family members have had great benefits.

Evening Primrose Oil: Benefits include pain relief since EPO contains a compound called phenylalanine that's known to relieve pain. It's used to relieve headaches and menstrual/menopausal and endometriosis symptoms and pains. It's even known to help with mood problems. It's an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and more.

The fatty acid in EPO is the reason for its healing properties. It's helps with joint pain, memory deficiencies and even nourishes nails and hair!

Black Cohosh Standardized Extract: Helps balance the reproductive hormones. Helpful for hot-flashes, night sweats, PMS pains. BCSE is a muscle relaxer, so it can also aid in muscle spasms.


Anise: Treats gastrointestinal problems like indigestion and heartburn, nausea and flatulence, hormonal imbalance and even respiratory problems. It's also helpful for insomnia and parasitic infections, reduces PMS symptoms and more.