Tired of running from store to store looking for the perfect gift with just the right mix of thoughtful, useful and unique? Consider our list of 5 Natural and DIY Gift Ideas! Easy to do, fun to make and rewarding to give, these ideas are good for the body and the earth.
CLAY
Clay is a powerful detoxifying substance that comes directly from the earth. While there are many varieties of clay that offer various benefits, our top pick for Gerson patients is Montmorillonite clay.
Known among the most powerful detoxifying natural substances on earth, this clay compound can act as an efficient delivery vehicle for mineral nutrients even when applied topically. When hydrated into a paste, it can draw oils and toxins from the skin, making it an excellent gift for a natural and affordable facial boost.
CLAY MASK WITH APPLE CIDER VINEGAR & HONEY
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dry clay
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or distilled water
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
Directions
Combine and mix well. Apply to face and allow to dry, or leave on for at least 10-15 minutes. Remove with warm water and washcloth.
NOTE: Do not use metal utensils when handling clay, as the clay reacts to the metal. Glass or wood utensils only.
COFFEE
If you’re a Gerson patient, chances are you’ve got tons of coffee grounds from all of those enemas. The most common approach to utilize spent grounds is to use them in the garden. This Holiday season, the gift of coffee is perfect to detox and treat your skin!
Coffee grounds have been used as an exfoliant to gently scrub away dead skin cells, with caffeine helping to reduce redness, improve circulation and overall promote smooth skin. Caffeine and other antioxidant substances such as polyphenols and hydrocinnamic acids may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects1 (particularly helpful for acne breakouts!). Gentle exfoliation may even help stimulate lymph drainage2.
While nearly all coffee scrub recipes use oils, sugar and other natural ingredients, we’ve modified the standard recipe for Gerson patients since oils and sweeteners are prohibited and restricted, respectively. If you’re not on the Gerson Therapy, use coconut or olive oil.
COFFEE SCRUB
Ingredients
- 1 cup coffee grounds
- 1/3 cup Epsom salt*
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flax seed oil (add a little at a time until desired consistency is reached)
Directions
Combine ingredients, mix well and store in an air-tight jar. Use 2 tablespoons weekly, in the morning. Rinse with warm water.
*Editors Note: for those using the Gerson Therapy to treat an ailment, Epsom salt is not allowed. Simply remove Epsom salt from this recipe.
CASTOR OIL
Thanks to its antimicrobial properties (that means it’s antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal), castor oil has been used for centuries for just about everything from inducing child birth to treating skin lesions. These days, castor oil has gained popularity as a natural method to improve hair growth for longer, thicker and shinier hair. That’s because those antimicrobial properties make it beneficial in fighting “against folliculitis, dandruff and scalp infections”3, while the Ricinoleic acid in castor oil is said to “help balance scalp pH, which can also replenish the scalp’s natural oils and undo some of the damage of harsh chemical hair products”.
The best part about castor oil is that it’s so versatile! It can be used for dry skin in hands and nails, as well as for medicinal purposes and pain relief (Gerson patients will be familiar with the castor oil pack).
Ingredients: castor oil can be found in most health food stores or on the internet. Be sure to use organic, cold-pressed, hexane-free castor oil. While castor oil can last for quite some time, dark bottles are best as the castor oil tends to go rancid faster with exposure to light.
Directions: there are a variety of methods online, but the simplest method is to rub a small amount onto the scalp after towel-drying. You can even wipe residue on ends to help heal split ends. Daily application is not necessary and does not make hair grow faster. Use 1-3 times per week.
DR. BRONNER’S LIQUID CASTILE SOAP
Liquid castile soap is super versatile and can be used for face, body and hair as well as dishes, laundry, mopping – even pets! For Gerson patients, this clean-ingredient, environmentally friendly household staple is perfect because of it’s versatility. Dr. Bronner’s website even has THIS handy cheat sheet for diluting the soap depending on the intended use.
OIL DIFFUSER
A toxic-free household means no plug-in air fresheners or scented room sprays, but DIY oil diffusers are super cute, non-toxic and really easy to make!
Ingredients/Supplies
- Small glass bottle or bud vase
- 5-10 bamboo kabob skewers
- A carrier oil (sweet almond, safflower or jojoba oil are light and can easily travel up the skewers)
- Essential oils of your choice
Directions
Put 1/4 cup carrier oil in the bottle/vase and add 15-25 drops of essential oil. Stir, add skewers (more skewers = more scent). Within a few hours, oils should have traveled up the skewers
References:
E Koloverou, D B Panagiotakos, C Pitsavos, C Chrysohoou, E N Georgousopoulou, A Laskaris & C Stefanadis (2015 July, 1). The evaluation of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers on coffee-diabetes association: results from the 10-year follow-up of the ATTICA Study (2002-2012).
Retrieved December 8, 2017 from European Journal of Clinical Nutrition’s website: https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn201598
The Vodder School, Walchsee, Austria (1998 December, 15). The Vodder School: the Vodder method.
Retrieved December 8, 2017 from National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9874409/
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Written and posted by: Nicole Ferrer-Clement