I know from first-hand experience the eczema symptoms: first, uncontrollable itching, followed by scratching, and, then, the horrific burning sensations associated with this miserable skin disorder. Early in my life, I was misdiagnosed and almost lost my foot due to an inflammation from eczema that was non responsive to steroidal-based treatments with radiation treatments as a last resort.. My parents took me to the best dermatologist in the community, paid hundreds of dollars that they could not afford, and saw little success. I still remember the misery and the pain.

Bari Roberts, New York Times best-selling author, gives her personal testimony on FOX News Affiliate WXIX-TV Channel 19 in Cincinnati, Ohio on her remarkable recovery from breast cancer. Her use of the SheOlogy Organics Healing Balm eliminated all postsurgical scarring from the surgery. Her story is powerful and with it comes new hope to women and men  who have scarring and skin disfigurations from surgical procedures and radiation treatments.

IS YOUR SKIN LOTION TOXIC?

 …Probably.  Do your own exercise and see how many toxic chemicals you can find in your so-called “natural’ ingredient list below. Remember this is just a partial list of the thousands of synthetic chemicals used everyday on your skin!  If you really want to resource your product, please visit Environmental Working Group’s  (EWG) website www.ewg.org and type in the name of your product.  Be prepared to read carefully documented information on these ingredients.

Women are brave ... in fact, very brave. From cradle to grave, from Africa to the United States, women are life-givers, life-support­ ers. We even suckle our young. Our bodies give us this power to give life to others. It is this strength that unites the women of Yagma Village, West Mrica to the women of our own hometowns.

In today's society, every woman is aware of breast cancer. What does a woman feel when her breasts, which carry her history fmm girl­ hood, through puberty and into womanhood are invaded and removed from her body? Bari-Ellen Roberts is an overcomer. She is the author of a New York Times best-seller, 'Roberts vs. Texaco.' and a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a breast cancer survivor. Here is her story.

"In 2009, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer.It was in my right tonsil. Most people who have this cancer are men who are smokers or heavy drinkers and over 50 years of age. Obviously, I did not fit the typical profile. I did not drink, I did not smoke, and I was not a man. But the battle is the same. Once I was diagnosed the treatment was brutal physically, psychologically and emotionally. It had spread outside of the primary area of the throat into my lymph nodes and was headed to my lungs. I was given a very aggressive treat­ment of 7 weeks of daily radiation, chemotherapy and surgery that removed part of my neck, muscles and breast tissue. During the treat­ment and recovery I was unable to eat for 9 months. I had a feeding tube inserted in my abdomen and was fed a liquid nutrient. I lost all of my hair from the radiation treatment. I lost considerable weight. I lost my voice for months. I was very disfigured by the experience. But I never lost my faith my optimism.

Hand sanitizers, while proven to be effective agents for killing germs, also dry out skin, leaving it cracked, irritated, and vulnerable to bacterial infections. This can be especially severe among older adults, since their loss of sweat glands (from aging) causes water to evaporate from their skin more quickly. Healing Balm by She′Ology Organics has been proven to be effective in healing and restoring damaged skin. This highly concentrated, all-natural skin emollient has no chemicals, preservatives or additives. It is laboratory-certified and 100% pure. Its ingredients have been scientifically documented to facilitate the healing of skin tissue through the high concentration of Vitamin A, which accelerates cell regeneration, and triterpenes, which are anti-inflammatory.

"The skin is the largest organ of the body," said Michelle Graves, CEO of She′Ology Organics. "It protects us,  so we need to protect it.  Healing Balm is amazing for your damaged skin. Try it for yourself and watch significant improvement on your hands, your feet, or anywhere your skin is troubled. ”

The Mystique surrounding the Karite fruit in Africa is fascinating. Known as the Tree of Life, its history is one of mystery, awe, and power. Tracing its story over thousands of years, this extraordinary tree is referenced in almost all African historical documents. However, the true mystique of the Karite tree is found in the oil extracted from its fruit seeds; we know it as Shea butter. Its healing and skin- restorative properties are legendary, and it was even used by the Queen of Sheba and Cleopatra. One reference mentions caravans bearing clay jars of precious Shea butter for Cleopatra’s cosmetic use, and huge urns filled with the oil were found in her tomb. Europeans rediscovered these trees about 200 years ago and have sought to commercialize its properties. Today, the oil in Shea butter is a highly sought-after ingredient in cosmetics, foods, medicines and applied science.

The Karite tree can be found growing wild on the dry, open savannahs of Central and Western Africa. Maturing after 25 years, a single tree can live and bear fruit for more than 300 years. It cannot be cultivated by humans. It grows only wild, reaching heights of over 60 feet. There is another mystery surrounding the tree: many believe it traces back to the Garden of Eden. As the story is told, a serpent tempted a woman to eat the fruit of the Karite. In doing so, she became inextricably connected to the tree and to the snake. This story has been passed down for generations and because the mystifying connection, only women are permitted to touch the tree, harvest the fruit and produce the Shea butter the is sold throughout the world. And another air of mystery? Large black snakes also love the Karite fruit and hover in the vicinity.

There is an undercurrent of inquiry right now about the correlation between skin care products, lotions and moisturizes and the epidemic in skin cancer and breast cancer. At a recent Movie Premier, I met Gulcin Gilbert. She had just finished a movie that reinforced my convictions about the need to use Natural Products in skin care and cosmetics. Below is a link to her movie.

For centuries, the Karite tree, and its product, Shea butter, has been a valuable asset on the African continent yielding edible oil for domestic use and products for cosmetic and medicinal use. Almost all historical references we have from pre-19th century Africa mention Shea butter. Even as early as Cleopatra’s Egypt, there is mention of caravans bearing clay jars of the valuable Shea butter for cosmetic uses.

Many of history’s great travelers recorded their observations about Africa’s culture and her use of Shea butter. Ibn Batouta was a 14th century historian and ambassador entrusted by the Morocco sultan with a diplomatic mission at the court of Mali. He traveled through West Africa in 1348 and reported the various uses of Shea butter. It is reported that the initial traditional roles have not changed significantly since 1830, when the French explorer Roger Caillie described them during his trek across West Africa. In Roger Caillie’s own words as reported in Hall et al., 1996, “the indigenous people trade with it, they eat it and rub their bodies with it; they also burn it to make light; they assure me that it is a very beneficial remedy against aches and pains and sores and wounds for which it is applied as an unguent”. Citing its outstanding properties, cosmetic chemists have been using Shea butter in their formulations more than twenty years ago. In 1990, clinical studies (as apart of a PH.D. dissertation in Pharmacy by F. Renard) showed that Shea butteris a valuable active for diminishing various aging signs including wrinkling and skin suppleness. It also regenerated dull, grayish complexions resulting in softer, smoother skin. (F Renard: Thése de doctorat en Pharmacie – Bordeaux 1990).

Today, we now know that Shea butter is much more. Emerging scientific research and data is emerging to substantiate many of the anecdotes and claims related to unrefined Shea butter’s phytochemical matrix which heals, protects, restores and regenerates human skin. More recent clinical studies suggest that Shea is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent reducing nasal decongestant, joint inflammation, osteoarthritis, and muscle stiffness. One added benefit: toxicological studies prove that Shea extract is safe for human consumption.