Anatomy of the Indian Head Wobble

The man in this diagram conveniently has a flap 

on the back of his neck that lifts away

to show us his suboccipital muscles.

A year ago I returned from a month-long adventure in India with an old friend. Among the intriguing cultural habits and customs my traveling companion and I became fond of, the infamous Indian head wobble brought the most pleasure. This delightful alternating atlanto-axial side-flexion gesture can mean anything from a friendly greeting to "I completely understand", "I'm not sure", "the deal is done", "what do you think?" or it can be used in combination with a smile to buy some time while you figure out a situation. You can imagine the confusion we experienced trying to decipher the meaning of this common and complex gesture as we bumbled our way through the incredibly culturally rich and already overwhelming environment that is India.

If you are unfamiliar with the head wobble, this video captures the diversity of this classic Indian gesture quite well.

And this video helps to decipher the many meanings and variations.

Now let's explore this unique custom from a more scientific vantage point, shall we my fellow anatomists?

The Anatomy

The bony components of the area responsible for the aforementioned head wobble include the bottom of the skull (or occiput), and the uppermost segments of the cervical spine. Muscles and ligaments intricately lash together these bones in all directions, overlapping and crisscrossing to make this one of the most mobile areas of the body. The sub occipital muscles have some of the most densely concentrated proprioceptive receptors in the entire body (second in sensitivity only to the fingers and lips). This density of nervous supply allows for the brain's very careful monitoring of where the head is in relation to the body, making delicate head motions and adjustments for balance possible.

Now that I'm thinking about some of the amazing features of the neck I have to point out just how much is going on in this area. Not only do we have a highly mobile stack of joints that surround the spinal cord (keep in mind that when a joint has

There's lot's of important tubes and wires in the neck.

great mobility, it sacrifices its stability) we also have massive blood vessels and the body's only vessel for air intake, the trachea.

Damage or disfigurement to any one of these structures can lead to death or at least significant bodily dysfunction. Since we are so vulnerable in this area, consider what I am saying and be mindful of how you treat your neck; it is the superhighway to the mother ship that is your brain. Tight neck muscles and poor posture are not to be ignored, they could be compromising your nervous, circulatory, and joint health!

Because of the complexity of the anatomy in the neck, there is not one muscle for each plane of movement. Instead, we are dealing with layers of muscles that work synergistically to the achieve combined actions of flexion, extension, side flexion, and rotation to execute the subtle gestures of the neck.

Muscles of the neck by Frank Netter, my favorite anatomical artist.

The Indian head wobble is a combined movement, primarily of alternating side flexion, between the two uppermost joints of the spine: the atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joints while the following muscles have influence in the co-ordination of the wobble.

• Sub-occipitals
• Middle scalenes
• Splenius capitis & cervicis
• Levator scapula
• Upper trapezius
• Sternocleidomastoid 

That last one is one of my favorite muscles to treat. Ask me about it when you're next in for treatment. 

See you in the clinic,

Dana

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suboccipital_triangle
http://filsheadsculpts.blogspot.ca/2013/02/muscle-references.html 
http://medwitness.doereport.com/generateexhibit.php?ID=2424&A=63380 
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/119197/Bony-framework-of-the-human-head-and-neck

Chop Wood, Carry Water, Repeat

I didn't know it was palliative massage at the time but spending those last lucid days with my father in the hospital turned out to be just that.

He became suddenly ill, recovered for a few days while I was able to spend time with him, then his condition worsened again. In just three weeks my dad had been in four different hospitals and two intensive care units. His respiratory and blood pressure function yo-yoed so frequently that his condition was reviewed by the doctors every eight hours to monitor progress or set-back. Sometimes this meant receiving phone calls from the hospital in the middle of the night for updates and permissions.

A by-stander to a loved one who is critically ill has to endure waiting for diagnosis, wondering about the treatments, medical system timelines, and the simple and deep concern for survival and comfort; it all adds up to be a roller-coaster of emotions that can leave you with a sense of helplessness.

My family and I were forced to learn how to surrender our need to fix the problem. My dad's critical condition was in the hands of the hospital. We were encouraged to be with him and to touch and talk to him even if he didn't appear to be conscious. And we did.

Me and my pops on a
Mexican adventure in 2012.

Those few days between ICU stints, where he was off all sedation and ventilation, he and I shared some incredibly tender moments. Massage was a big part of our time together. It brought him comfort, and was a welcome form of positive touch that broke up the pokes and prods of medical procedures. It also made me feel like I was helping in an otherwise helpless situation. I suspect that I benefited by providing the massage as much as he did in receiving it.

Perhaps you have heard the Zen adage "chop wood, carry water." This is often interpreted as being mindful and present in all the activities of your life, even the mundane ones. But this can also mean to mindfully carry on in times of difficulty. No matter what state of consciousness you exist in - enlightenment, strife, joy, or despair - you still need to do your tasks and know that there will be more tasks when those are through. There is a grounding effect in fulfilling one's daily tasks and routines especially when you are in a state of flux. Doing what I know how to do for someone I love in a terrible time of need was me chopping wood and carrying water.

Leo Babauta explains this concept in another lovely way in his article The Zen of Doing.

Anyone can provide positive loving touch, and often it is a welcome offering. Don't be shy about reaching out; it can feel empowering to offer this type of tactile help.

Things to consider if you are providing massage to someone in the hospital:

• Do they want it? Ask your sick loved one if they would like to be massaged by you. If you don't ask they may not know how to tell you that they aren't comfortable with you touching them. I personally can't imagine it but there are people out there who don't like to be touched. It would be awful to discover that even with all your good intention you were actually increasing their discomfort!
• Is it safe? Massage can have significant effects on the body's systems, which also may be under the influence of medications. Always ask the patient's medical team if it is appropriate to provide massage. Usually gentle massage to hands, feet, and scalp are a safe bet, depending on what's going on with their body.
• Policies? Many hospitals and facilities are scent-free. Be mindful of fragrance that may be present in your massage lubricant and the effects of this on your surroundings. 
• How? Just start gently massaging and follow your instincts. Keep your mind present by focusing on what you feel and how they are responding. Adjust what you are doing as you go. Ask them if they are comfortable with how you are massaging them, and be receptive to what they say. You will have to get creative about how to move around the hospital bed and equipment in order to reach the parts you want to massage. Be kind to your own body, it's not helpful to injure yourself by being in an uncomfortable position. Plus, the person receiving your touch will sense your discomfort which is certainly not pleasant for them either.

And then he was gone.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have noticed a great gap in my postings. Please excuse my disappearance from blogging, now you know why. There is thankfully more chopping and carrying ahead of me as I meander my way through the grieving process of loosing someone so dear to me.

Be sure to tell your loved ones you love them and reach out and give that hug. Sometimes they're gone before you think they will be.

Dana

 

 

How Often Should I Get a Massage?

Life is busy. We all need to schedule in the things
that are important to us or they simply won't happen.

I am asked this question a lot, but there is no set answer. It really is a feel thing.

The reasons for seeking massage therapy vary from aiding your recovery from an orthopedic injury to keeping your stress levels at bay or improving your performance in physical activities. Each individual has different needs and I am here to support you in your goals, whatever they may be.

I strive to help people re-connect with their bodies and to learn to listen to the subtle language that their body is speaking to them. My new clients often leave feeling surprised by this new found body awareness. I witness people becoming aware of the signals their body send when they need a tune-up. If a self-care regime is no longer working then hiring help may be the needed next step.

So, how often should you come in? Here's a general guide:

• Acute injuries often require a series of closely timed appointments (such as once a week for several weeks) in order to influence the changes in the tissues during the healing process. This appointment span can also be applied to those working to change postural dysfunctions. When undertaking such recovery programs it is important to follow the stretch/strengthen/posture advice I provide in order to get the best results from your massage treatment series. Your soft tissue is best influenced during the first couple of days after a treatment, so showing your body the shape you want it to transform into is crucial during this time.
• Maintenance or stress management treatments are often booked 2-6 weeks apart. I have regular clients who have recurring appointments weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. If you have a busy schedule and can only come on certain days or times then booking a regular recurring appointment makes certain that the perfect time slot is always available for you. Receiving regular massages also depends on how your body responds to treatment, what you can afford (in terms of both money and time), and what is going on in your life. Pregnancy, new fitness activities, or illness can change the frequency of needing a massage.

You need to tune-in and listen to what your body is asking of you. No one but yourself can hear this dialogue but I can help you learn the language.

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Don't Call Me Names

Let's make an important distinction:
Massage Therapists work in clinics.
Masseuses work in parlours.

I am a massage therapist. I am not a masseuse.

I've been called a bodyworker (though this term makes my skin crawl due to the the combination of the words "body and "work"). My profession doesn't need any help with misleading the public about what services are provided in a massage; enough people are already confused. I tolerate bodywork as a term for soft tissue manual therapy because the non-registered massage providers who understandably didn't want to be called masseuses had to come up with something that represented their field of work. There are some very gifted non-registered practitioners at work. Some of the people who most inspired me to study massage therapy were of such status. Because they chose not to take the registered road they have a different type of practice but I do not have any less respect for their lifelong commitment to helping others through touch.

As a massage consumer it is difficult to anticipate the quality of services provided by a non-registered provider. Anyone can hang a shingle and say they give a good massage but there is no regulation on training requirements and this is why the profession of registered massage therapy makes such a stink about defining what their profession is and does.

Our clinic.

I understand that there may be a generational difference in the meaning of the term masseuse. I can never bring myself to correct my 90 year old grandfather on this flub. But I want people to begin to understand what massage therapy currently is. Not everyone has caught wind of this, as I recently experienced at the clinc where I work alongside physiotherapists, a chiropractor, a Chinese Medicine practitoner, and another massage therapist. Our centre is bright, spacious, and inviting to those who are looking for a serene environment to tackle their health issues. Regardless of our clinic's appearance and branding, a gentleman dropped into the clinic to inquire if we did *wink-wink* "special massage". I clearly informed him that we did not ever provide that type of massage. I assure you that no seductive neon signs were luring him to our clinic, he just saw our sandwich board and inquired. This happens; massage may be associated with sexual touch. Massage has such a vast variance of interpretations worldwide that we are fighting an uphill battle in distinguishing the difference in types of hands-on techniques.

Let me clarify how it works. In order to be permitted to practice within a plethora of clinical settings my registered massage therapist colleagues and I have obtained extensive schooling (3000 hours), taken board exams, pay yearly dues to the college with which we are registered, obtain yearly continuing education credits, and adhere to CMTBC by-laws & The Health Professions Act. The reason these reserved title specifications are in place is to protect the profession. When the public talks about getting a massage we want their language to reflect the type of treatment received and leave no grey area about the therapeutic value of the services.

I don't intend to be hung-up on terminology but the differences in connotation between the terms massage therapist, bodyworker, masseuse are significant. I think it's fair to say that pretty much all of us in this profession consider this terminological variance a pet peeve. Please help us clarify this difference by using the appropriate terms.

In British Columbia the profession of massage therapy has claim on four titles that are not to be used by anyone other than their registered members. If you provide massage in this province but are not a registered member of the College of Massage Therapists of BC you may get some heat from our organization about what you are calling yourself; yes, there are people keeping an eye on such things.

The reserved titles are:

1. Massage Therapist
2. Registered Massage Therapist
3. Massage Practitioner
4. Registered Massage Practitioner

It's a minor linguistic difference to those who may not have a decent grasp on the English language and I'll forgive them and those who are simply ignorant until they know better. But for the rest of you, please don't interchange the word "masseuse" with "massage therapist". While my clients usually leave the treatment room happier than when they arrived I absolutely do not consider this providing them with "happy endings".

See you in the clinic (not the parlour),
Dana

Universal Children's Day

The world's children need regular healing touch.

November 20th is Universal Children's Day. In 1954 the United Nations established this day to encourage all countries to institute a day to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children.

The Liddle Kidz Foundation is hard at work year round to empower caretakers to use infant and pediatric massage to promote the health and well-being of children who have a harder start to life. Not all of these children are fortunate enough to find themselves in an orphanage and many are forced to live rough lives on the street. The group the video below traveled to Vietnam to educate caregivers in orphanages about providing massage to the kids in residence. In some instances this was the second visit by Liddle Kidz to a few orphanages and the caregivers recount their first-hand experience of how the incidence of sickness has decreased, requiring less intervention of acute medical care, thus showing that touch has an important role in health and well-being.

This group went overseas "not to start a fire, but to pass a torch" and it appears that they have done just that by sharing their skills and knowledge. This foundation's work empowers communities to use positive touch to promote health and happiness of their liddlest members. This video sheds some light on an incredible program that I hope to one day soon participate in.

I have written more elsewhere in this blog about the necessity of touch, please have a read and don't neglect to reach out today and touch someone who is special to you.

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Sweet or Salty Body Scrub

Just the other day I recommended to a client to try using a sugar body scrub. She had an unfortunate reaction to the chemicals used in a pool that left her swim suit discolored and her skin rough and scratchy feeling. Sounded like the pool maintenance crew added too many additives! She was already well versed in kitchen cosmetics, even sharing with me her favorite hair repair recipe that she used weekly during her platinum blonde phase that included mayonnaise, raw egg, and an avocado. This is what I shared with her to help regain her usual silky skin texture:

Basic Body Scrub

You already have the ingredients in your
pantry for luxuriously soft skin.

• 1 cup sugar or sea salt
• 1/2 cup oil (olive, almond, canola - whatever is in your cupboard)
• essential oils, if desired 

The ratio of oil to sugar/salt will depend on the consistency you like most.  Start with a little bit of oil and gradually add more depending on your preferences.
If you have eczema or another dry and cracked skin condition, stick with the sugar. You will find that the salt will irritate your already sensitive skin.
Olive oil leaves the most nourishing effect on the skin, but leaves you smelling a tad like olives. Almond and canola oil have no scent, but are lighter and less moisturizing.
Experiment to find what suits you best.

And some tasty variations:

Coffee Body Scrub

• 1/2 cup coarsely ground coffee
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 8 drops vanilla essential oil

Lemon Mint Body Scrub

• 1 cup sugar or sea salt
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 Tbs lemon zest or 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 1 Tbs dried mint or 5 drops peppermint essential oil

How to Use

After your initial shower wash down, with your bowl of scrub concoction poised tub-side, turn off the water and begin your scrub. Take a scoop of the mixture in your hand and begin massaging it into your skin in gentle circles. Try to massage distally on your limbs toward your core in order to promote venous return, there by aiding your circulation, i.e: ankle to hip, wrist to shoulder. Don't forget to exfoliate your lips too! Conveniently, the scrub dissolves before you can over exfoliate. Rinse thoroughly - without soap to keep all the moisturizing goodness on your skin - then towel off and enjoy your newly lustrous integument.

The shower floor gets a bit slippery, thanks to the oil, so please be careful! There's nothing wrong with sitting down to perform your exfoliation.

See you and your gleaming epidermis in the clinic,
Dana




Sources:
http://yeswecoupon.com/diy-sugar-scrubs-makes-a-great-gift/
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-sugar-scrub.html
http://petitelefant.com/how-to-make-homemade-sugar-scrub/

'Tis the Season For Gratitude

In a world that sells dissatisfaction, it’s almost heretical to feel happy about your body. And on the rare occasion when body satisfaction is socially acceptable, it’s usually in the context of “Hot dang, I look amazing in my wedding dress/tailored business suit/unitard/bathing suit/whatever I just spent a lot of money on in order to make me feel this way for a couple of hours.” For all the sunshiny Facebook messages telling you “You’re beautiful!” there’s not much to make us feel legitimately joyful to be in our own skins.

So where does happiness come from anyway? Psychological studies show that happiness stems not from being the best, most successful, or sexiest but from gratitude. So telling yourself over and over that you’ve got a great body is less likely to leave you feeling happy than feeling grateful for the body you’ve got. 

Still, it’s the season of giving thanks and if there were ever a time be thankful for the bodies we inhabit it’s now. You can give thanks that your body:

• honours your parents simply with its presence and the features it received from them 
• is young and healthy and strong
• has taught you important lessons about pain and the mental and emotional strength you have in bearing it
• has the senses to know beauty, the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of the world around you
• includes a mind that can think, imagine, and dream
• has built, dug, cooked, sewn, planted, and otherwise influenced the world around it
• has given rise to new life
• has survived the ravages of disease and/or injury
• has seen you through many long years of life
• has touched, held and taught the bodies of others around you
• while it may contain the seeds of the disease that may one day kill it, it will not die today

Massage therapists get to see the wonder of the bodies around us every day. It’s an honour and one I am perpetually grateful for. On Thanksgiving Day, give thanks for food and family and friendship, those standards of the season. Express your gratitude however you do: through writing in your journal, phone calls to your loved ones, a reflective walk in the woods, or prayer. But don’t forget that inimitable body of yours which has accomplished so many things throughout your life. If we all inhabited our bodies with an attitude of gratitude, who knows what might happen? Maybe that whole peace on earth business wouldn’t seem so far away.

See you in the clinic,
Dana

Look Sweet, Smell Sweet, Be Sweet: Rosy Glow Toner

Rose extract has been known to reduce the damage of UVB
rays to skin's elastin fibers which causes lines in your skin.

In this part of the northern hemisphere there are only a couple parts of our bodies that are exposed to the elements year round and our face is one of them. Soothing our skin is paramount in maintaining a radiant visage. Consider using rose water as a toner in your natural skin care regime. I do and I love smelling like a rose.

Benefits of using rose water topically:

• Soothes irritated and inflamed skin due to acne, psoriasis, shaving, and exposure to the elements
• Reduces puffiness around the eyes
• Evens skin tone and texture
• Lightly moisturizes
• Aroma-therapeutic indications: depression, eczema, mature skin, menopause, stress.

"On the skin it is most effective for moisturizing and hydrating, while having a general stimulant and antiseptic action which is good for all skin types, but especially so for dry, mature, and irritated skin. It is used to repair broken capillaries, inflammation as well as skin redness and is useful in eczema and herpes. Rose water can also be used for conjunctivitis." Quoted from this essential oil supplier.

Using Rose Water as a Skin Toner

Where Turkish delights, saffron, and dates are sold
you will also likely find rose water.

I keep a small spray bottle on my bathroom shelf for toning my face between cleansing and moisturizing. Applying it with a cotton ball also works as a quick midday boost.

Store the remainder of the rose water in the fridge for quick refills as needed. Keep in mind that if your rose water smells sour it's time for a fresh bottle.

Rose water is a by-product of the steam distillation process by which rose oil is procured from the flower's petals for perfume. It has been used as a gentle astringent and anti-inflammatory cosmetic product for centuries.


Rose water is commonly used as a food ingredient used in Middle Eastern cuisine and can be found in Persian and Indian markets.

If you are blessed with an abundance of fragrant rose petals in your spring garden, consider making a stove-top still to distill your own rose water. The Woodwife's Journal explains in detail how to go about this. It's easier than you think!

Links to the rest of my natural skin care regime are found here.

See you and your glowing face in the clinic,
Dana



Sources:

• http://health.yahoo.net/experts/skintype/rose-water-gentle-skin-care-option
• Image:  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rose-oliv.jpg 
• http://www.auracacia.com/auracacia/aclearn/eo_rose.html
• Image: http://parsmarketcolumbia.wordpress.com/2013/01/
• http://www.news1130.com/2013/02/04/can-vancouvers-little-india-district-survive/

2-in-1: Evening Cleanser & Make-up Remover

I've learned to fight oil with oil and this cleanser is my latest discovery. I have used olive oil as an eye make-up remover for years, but never considered cleansing my whole face with oil until recently. This concoction removes the residues of the day - including waterproof mascara - by gently drawing out impurities from the pores and lashes. Open comedomes - or blackheads - come to the surface for gentle extraction. Because your skin's natural oil balance is not disturbed by harsh cleansers, moisturizing is not necessary after using this cleansing oil.

Ingredients:

1 part castor oil
1 part extra virgin olive oil

Shake vigorously in a small bottle. Store out of direct sunlight.

Play with the ratios of castor to olive oil to establish what is best for your skin. If your skin tends to be oily, add more castor oil. If it's on the drier side, add more olive oil.
I tried a batch using almond oil in place of olive oil with inferior results. The extra virgin olive oil gives the elixir a delightful silky texture. Castor oil, extracted from the castor bean, is readily found in pharmacies, and extra virgin olive oil should already be in your kitchen cupboard.

Travel-sized cosmetic bottles work great for
storing small batches of DIY skin care products.

How to use:

• Massage a small amount of cleansing oil all over your face, working out the grime of the day.
• Carefully work into your lashes to gently remove eye make up.
• The use of a warm wrung-out face cloth is key. The temperature should be warm enough to open your pores, but not so hot that you damage the delicate blood vessels on the bridge of your nose and cheeks. Once the cloth is wrung out, drape it over your face for a few seconds to allow the steam to open your pores and for the warmth to soften the oils. Carefully wipe the oil off with the cloth, using more specific wipes around the eyes if removing makeup.
• Mist your face and décolletage with a toner and apply a moiturizer if your skin is particularly thirsty, but you will likely find that this cleanser will help your skin find its natural oil balance.

For me, this cleanser is best used at the end of the day because of it's deep cleansing and moisturizing effect on my skin. Use the Gentle Daily Exfoliation Powder for a more astringent morning cleansing in the shower.

If you would like to learn more about oil cleansing from another blogger, read this.

Find links to my entire natural skin care regime here. I will be releasing all of my secrets over the course of the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

See you in the clinic,
Dana




Sources:

• Image source:  http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Smart-Bottle-Set/dp/B004HCECVA/ref=sr_1_10?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1379957832&sr=1-10

Empower Your Epidermis - Beware the Parabens

Parabens are hiding not only anti-antiperspirant and make-up
but shampoo, body wash, hand soap, and baby care products, too.

The integument - or skin- is the largest organ of the body, making up 16% of body weight. It is a physical barrier from the outside environment that encapsulates and protects the body. It contains sensory receptors that aid our perception of the environment and it absorbs and excretes substances to and from the body. That's right folks, your epidermis absorbs what you put on it - both the good and the bad.

Parbaens have been making plenty of news these days and for good reason. These chemical compounds are widely used as anti-microbial agents in cosmetics, skin care products, pharmaceuticals, and even foods. Used as preservatives to extend shelf-life of various products, once in the body, act as estrogen imitators, meaning that they trick the body into thinking they are helpful hormonal bodily substances, and congregate in tissues where estrogen is high - often the breast tissue.

Adolescent girls and women have been found to have highest levels of these compounds in their systems, which could be linked to the liberal usage of cosmetic and personal care products that this demographic tends to use. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in North America (after skin cancer). Parabens have been found in high concentration in most breast tumour biopsies. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer during her life is about 1 in 8. Yikes!

When these substances are known to be present in tumours, even if not yet deemed carcinogenic, my instinct is to avoid them. The problem is that most personal care products do contain parabens to help them stay fresh on the shelf for longer. I look carefully on the labels - sometimes requiring a magnifying glass - for ingredients that end with 'paraben'. For example: Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben.

It is intimidating trying to make the healthiest choices for personal care products; there is so much to watch out for! Read the infographic below to learn about some commonly used nasty ingredients. Hopefully you, unlike myself, are able to feel empowered by your new found knowledge instead of overwhelmed and dumbfounded. To counter my anxiety, I make my own natural skin cleansing products.

Over the course of the next several posts I will be releasing the recipes for my own skin care regime that I have been developing over the past decade. All the ingredients used are found easily in grocery stores or pharmacies, are natural, incredibly inexpensive, and when used as described, very effective. You will look radiant, and your conscience can rest knowing that you are making the healthiest choices. Plus, there is another sweet bonus: you will be saving loads of money.

Dana's Natural Skin Care Regime

My skin care regime includes the following items, and I will release all of their top-secret recipes to you over the next few weeks. Links are provided here to the recipes already published.

• Gentle Daily Exfoliating Powder
• Evening Oil Cleanser & Make-up Remover
• Calming Facial Toner
• Firming & Nourishing Facial Mask
• After Sun Gel 
• Recommended Products

Find Dana's Gentle Daily Exfoliating Recipe here.

I feel empowered sharing this info with you, since putting it out there makes me accountable to someone, reaffirming my commitment to live as lightly and naturally as possible.

Take care of that epidermis until I next see you in the clinic,

Dana

This infographic was found here

Sources:

• http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/radiation-chemicals-and-breast-cancer/parabens.html
• http://courses.washington.edu/bioen327/Labs/Lit_SkinStruct_Bensouillah_Ch01.pdf
• http://www.sheknows.com/sheknows-cares/articles/823419/10-most-common-cancers-in-the-us
• http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2012/06/parabens-breast-cancer-2299994.html
• http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/overviewguide/breast-cancer-overview-key-statistics
• http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5971/12-Toxic-Ingredients-to-AVOID-in-Cosmetics-Skin-Care-Products-Infographic.html