What Do Doctors Know, Anyway?

Upon any disappointment or hurt in my daughter’s life, she is apt to say, “Put da wotion on, Mama”. I then follow-up with, “Lotion doesn’t fix everything, Baby”. Well, I recently took her to the dermatologist for a suspicious looking bubbly red rash travelling around her body. After a quick glance, the doctor said, “It’s just eczema. She’s probably allergic to nickel”. The doctor proceeded to leave the room, after which the nurse came in with a plastic baggie and handed it to the baby. Her eyes popped as she realized what the magic baggie contained: “Oh, Mama … WOTION!” You’ve never seen a smile so big. OK, so maybe lotion does fix everything.

*Product Review: Virgin Coconut Butter

So I bet you thought coconut butter was one of those major heath no-no’s. That evil ingredient in movie theatre popcorn they assure you will enlarge your butt and narrow your arteries. Well, such is the case for REFINED coconut oil, but as it turns out, Unrefined Virgin Coconut oil is actually quite the opposite. You can find it at any health food store, organic even. (Cold-pressed is the best.) If you love the aroma of fresh coconuts, you’ll adore this product. Not only is it healthy to cook with, but it adds a wonderfully subtle and exotic flavor to your favorite dishes. In addition, it’s able to preserve its health benefits (of which there are many, Google and be amazed) at a higher temperature than, say … olive oil. Because it’s so pure (just one ingredient) it makes a perfect baby lotion, smells divine (unlike refined coconut oil, which has no fragrance), and even has anti-fungal properties. If your skin is not too dry, it makes a good body butter and a wonderful hair moisturizer that leaves a beautiful sheen, without the build-up. I’ve even used it on my face. What more can I say, it’s a multi-tasking miracle! Now, I must mention that it only remains a solid at room temperature and lower. If you’re taking a tropical safari, it’ll turn into a melty mess right quick, but it does still retain all of its beneficial qualities and will harden up again once it cools. Skin care companies (like Sumbody) sell this for butt-loads of money, but you can find lower-end and generic versions from around $6.99 for 14 oz at Whole Foods and the like, then it goes up from there. Price wise it's on par with olive oil, but when you consider its many uses, much more cost effective. AND you’re using a product that’s good for your health, your hair, your skin, and the environment. Fabulous … 4½ Stars.