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Herbs don't just make meals more delicious. Herbs are natural remedies that have skin and mind benefits. According to this website, "They help cleanse and purify the body without side effects. Herbs regulate and tone the glands to function normally. Herbs are high in vitamins and minerals and other nutrients that nourish and build the body. Herbs allow the body to have extra energy to heal itself, and finally herbs promote the body's natural good bacteria."

Read on to find out what skin and mind benefits our list of thirteen herbs offer.

1. Basil

Skin benefit - kills free radicals that cause skin disorders

Mind benefit - an anti-stress agent

 

2. Chamomile

Skin benefit - softens skin

Mind benefit - relaxes the mind and body

 

3. Coriander

Skin benefit - help alleviate pimples and blackheads

Mind benefit - offers a fresh, cool feeling

 

4. Dill

Skin benefit - an anti-oxidant

Mind benefit - relieves insomnia

 

5. Fennel

Skin benefit - tones the skin

Mind benefit - provides relief from migraines and dizziness

 

6. Lavender

Skin benefit - stimulates cell growth

Mind benefit - reduces irritability

 

7. Marjoram

Skin benefit - anti-fungal

Mind benefit - a relaxing, fragrant essential oil

 

8. Parsley 

Skin benefit - helps lift and firm skin

Mind benefit - helps energize the body

 

9. Peppermint

Skin benefit - nourishes dull skin as well as improves oily skin

Mind benefit - helps reduce fever and relieve pain

 

10. Rosemary

Skin benefit - helps slow down ageing process

Mind benefit - relieves anxiety and nervousness

 

11. Sage

Skin benefit - helps those that suffer from oily skin

Mind benefit - helps regulate blood pressure when inhaled

 

12. Tarragon

Skin benefit - has antiseptic properties

Mind benefit - relieves nervousness

 

13. Thyme

Skin benefit - helps heal cuts, bruises, acne, and rashes

Mind benefit - can act as a memory booster 

 

These herbs are available individually, but some products combine herbs to maximize its soothing and nourishing properties. One such product is Radox (rey-docs), a popular body wash in Australia and New Zealand. Check out some of their varieties in this gallery.

 

Photo by Murti Utami from www.everystockphoto.com

Being bound to a desk all day can take its toll on your body. Slouching in front of your computer, for instance, can contribute to muscle tension on your shoulders  and affect your posture. Working throughout the day without stretching can make you feel even more stressed. To lessen the stress and tension while you're at work, here are three yoga exercises that can help you relax without leaving your desk.

1. Arm stretches: Sit straight on your chair with both feet touching the floor. Raise your right arm and grip the right wrist with your left hand. As you inhale, slowly stretch your right arm upwards, as far as you can reach. Exhale as you start to lower your arm. Repeat for the left arm, with your right hand gripping the left wrist.

2. Neck relaxing stretches: Assume the same straight sitting position on your chair. Hold the left side of your head (about an inch above your left ear) with two fingers of your right hand. Inhale as you push your head to the right slowly. Tip back your head to the center slowly, exhaling as you do so. Repeat the exercise for the left side, with two fingers of your left hand on the right side of your head, pushing it to the left.

3. Trunk twists: Sit firmly on your chair with feet flat on the floor, your back straight and not touching the chair's back rest. Grip the right side of your armrest with both hands, and slowly twist your body to the right, inhaling as you do so. Exhale as you slowly undo the twist and return to the center. Repeat the exercise for the left side.

 

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I first heard we would be doing capoeira during the Wellness media camp hosted by Bayer Schering, I was seriously worried because one, I can't dance to save my life, and two, doing self-defense while dancing looks too tough to me. But there was no turning back when I put on my capoeira pants and eventually found myself in line for drills.

Luckily, the ladies from Escola Brasiliera de Capoeira (EBC) Philippines took it easy on us, and they made learning the basic rules really fun. But first, what is capoeira, really?

Capoeira is a Brazilian blend of dance, martial art, and game, and was developed by imported Africans who cloaked the guise of learning self-defense with an innocent-looking dance. As a mixed method, it conditions the body as it does wonders for the mind, strength, rhythm, poetry, agility, and harmony, making it an excellent form of exercise as well. In the Philippines, the Brazilian School of Capoeira is headed by Alessandro De Azevedo Soares Coqueiro, or simply Professor Fantasma, who hails from Brazil.

To start off, our instructors, whom we called by their Brazilian names Macaca, Xaropinha, and Fofinha taught us the ginga, the basic move in capoeira, or literally "rocking back and forth" by standing with both feet a shoulder-width apart, then moving one foot backwards then back to the base, forming a triangular step while swinging the arms sidewards. As the fundamental movement in capoeira, ginga is also the springboard for other movements.

It looked easy so far, until we were taught au, or cartwheeling, which I was admittedly scared to do. Thankfully, Macaca made it easy for me by teaching us to press our palms flat on the floor after bending, then swinging the waist and legs up, and landing sideways. Trivia: This move can also be used to perform a kicking maneuver!

 

'It looked easy so far, until we were taught au, or cartwheeling, which I was admittedly scared to do'

Another interesting thing about capoeira is that their method of defense is mostly just dodging, unlike other martial arts which use different kinds of blocking. Sounds pretty safe to me, and I like it!

Of course, we couldn't really do fights yet, but the capoeiristas treated us to a peek of the real game. We formed a circle, called the roda, where the capoeiristas took turns sparring in the center while we clapped and sang along to the catchy samba de roda music. It looked so fascinating up close, I couldn't help but think of seriously pursuing the martial art--if I had time, that is! But really, if you want to keep fit while learning dance and martial arts, capoeira would surely do you good.

Interested in capoeira? You can check out EBC's programs and schedules at their official website, www.ebcphilippines.com.