Perhaps one of the least known treasures from the Horn of Africa is etan, both a tree and what has been described as a god-like resin. Ancient civilisations crazed over etan, and used it profusely for a number of purposes, particularly in cosmetic, healing and spiritual rituals. During the ancient era,...
The Scythians were a vast network of ancient Central Asian nomads, who roamed freely across the boundless Eurasian plains from the ninth century B.C.E. up until the fourth century C.E. They were masters of horse-born mobility and fearsome warriors. Scythian women, like their men, trained from a young age and...
For the ancient civilisations of Mesoamerica, chocolate or rather Cacao was a prized beverage and achieved a sacred status. Believing that the Gods had discovered the Cacao tree high up in the mountains and had thus gifted it to them following their creation, the ancient Maya and Aztec paid a...
The hammam has been the site of a purifying and beautifying ritual spanning thousands of years. As a timeless tradition, it uses the most basic of nature’s gifts – water, heat and a sponge, and is a perfect solution to counter some of the more stressful moments from modern life. There...
First cultivated 5,000 years ago in China, tea has become one of the most popular beverages around the world and a rich history that spans continents and cultures. It has been an excellent source of both disease-fighting flavonoids and antioxidants that help detoxify damaging free radicals in our bodies. But...
Aloe vera, an excellent source for healing skin inflammation, sores and burns, is widely known as one of the main ingredients in many skin care products today. Moreover, the plant’s over 200 active compounds, such as mannans, polysaccharides, lectins, and anthraquinones, make it an extremely beneficial plant for our health....
Beauty, they say, goes only skin-deep. But the importance of skin goes a lot deeper. What most people don’t know is that your overall skin health is disproportionately determined by your inner layer of skin (dermis), as opposed to the outer layer (epidermis). Our faces are like magic mirrors reflecting the...
Although your skin is designed to be a protective barrier, it is porous and will absorb the ingredients in many skin care and cosmetics products. Regular use of chemical laden ingredients will cause the body to store these chemicals. Over time this accumulation can cause many health issues. Take the...