Natural Sun and Insect Protection  

By Karen Unsworth Berger, BAA, TFH

Sun protection

It is absolutely NOT a good idea to use commercial sunscreens or wear sunglasses except in extreme conditions where there may be heavy glare from water or snow - in this case where extreme protection may be needed in small areas of the skin, we can use a zinc cream which is white, and is not absorbed.   We have light receptors on the surface of our skin and eyes which work together, and interfering with the light information that these receptors are receiving by wearing  sunscreen and/or sunglasses causes a mismatch as the skin and eyes are not receiving accurate information about their light environment.  As a result, a common result of wearing sunglasses is sunburn. 

It is better to go in the shade, cover up, and wear a hat!   The sunscreen industry is a 7 billion dollar industry, and they are not about to give that up, regardless of how much new research there is proving it's harms, and the fact that unblocked sunlight is an essential nutrient that almost everyone is deficient it due to the fact that as a culture, we live mostly indoors. 

Dr. Jack Kruse states that most dermatologists and centralised medicine in general pound it into us that the sun is dangerous.  It is NOT.  (Of course too much of anything isn't good - the lighter your skin, the more efficiently it absorbs light - it's best to build a "solar callus" by exposing your skin to morning light - preferably sunrise).  Sunlight is an essential nutrient which we evolved with.  In some rare cases, severe over exposure to strong sun may cause skin cancer, and diet - specifically too much Omega 6 vegetable/seed oils can cause this (see more below).  To quote Dr. Alexis Cowan, "no  one ever dies from those kinds (sun exposure) of cancer - people die from cancers caused by LACK of sun".   Indoor living also causes blue light toxicity - even if you have a beautiful home with lots of natural light, the light is filtered by the glass, and un-naturally high in the blue spectrum which passes through glass easily, causing most of our modern day illness and disease. Using commercial sunscreens (and wearing sunglasses) further compounds blue light toxicity, and increases light nutrient deficiency in us. 

• Sunscreen blocks UVB light which is an "Essential Nutrient" because of the cascade of benefits we receive from this wavelength, including the production of vitamin D and hormone production including dopamine, the "happy hormone", sex hormones, and blood sugar controlling hormones. 
• Using sunscreen actually causes atrophy and weakening of the skin causing the appearance of aging
• Sunscreen contains harmful chemicals which are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream

Lanolin:  This simple natural formula hydrates and smooths sun exposed skin, and according to Dr. Joseph Mercola, lanolin acts as a natural sunscreen which does not block the production of vitamin D and other huge benefits of the UV light as traditional sunscreens do - in fact it helps your skin to produce more vitamin D.  He states that it also protects the skin from photo aging due to sun exposure.  Personally I also use this formula 2 x day as a day and night cream.  Lanolin is very sticky - a bit like molasses - so we don't need much. Traditionally mothers used on their baby's skin to protect against diaper rash. 

Sunscreen Formula

You should be able to get all of these ingredients in a good health food store.   Use dark glass bottles available where essential oils are sold -This recipe makes a bit over 1/3 cup which lasts a long time.  Combine the ingredients in a pyrex measuring cup, and pour into glass dropper bottles - it will be too thick for the dropper inserts.  

In a pyrex measuring cup, add:

•  1/4 cup jojoba oil
•   4 tsp liquid lanolin 
•   4 tsp organic castor oil
•    7 drops organic lavender or (Aura Cacia brand is good, but must be the organic bottle.)  

To apply, squeeze about 1/2 dropper into your palm, wet your fingertips of the other hand under the tap, and massage your wet fingers into the oil in your palm.  This will thin it a little, and make it easier to apply evenly over your face, neck, upper chest, and backs of the hands, and anywhere else you may need some protection.  

Other Factors affecting the skin:  Note that Omega 6 oils - vegetable and seed oil consumption (sunflower, canola, corn oil, artificial butters etc),  cause skin atrophy and sensitivity to burning as they are volatile, and sunlight causes these oils in the skin to oxidise which causes skin burning and aging, eye problems as the central retinal pathway is composed mainly of Omega 3 fats.  It also causes other inflammation throughout the body.  Avoid these oils (hidden in almost all processed and fried foods - read labels) and use natural fats such as butter, Greek olive oil (it is not usually diluted with vegetable oils the way exported Italian olive oil often is), coconut oil which is saturated, and lard.  These oils are stable and will not oxidise in the skin.  Get lots of Omega 3 oils from seafood. Avoid farmed fish such as salmon as the salmon are fed a species inappropriate diet and instead of omega 3 which they get from a natural diet of sea algae, the fish contain harmful omega 6 from their un natural farmed diet of seeds, soy, and grains.  Shellfish, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and wild sockeye salmon are excellent sources of Omega 3. 

INSECT REPELLENT Formula

Insect repellents generally have un-necessarily toxic ingredients.  This natural home made formula is actually GOOD for your skin.

You should be able to get all ingredients at a good health food store.  The lanolin here is not only to hydrate and protect the skin from burning, but also to make the mixture slightly sticky and last longer on the skin.  I have indicated the brand that I used because it is widely available - I'm sure other organic quality brands would be fine.   Pour into a small spray bottle and shake well.  Shake well before each use. 

• 1/4 cup alcohol free witch hazel
• 1/2 tsp liquid lanolin
• 20 drops lavender oil  (Aura Cacia, organic)
• 15 drops geranium oil   (Aura Cacia, organic)
• 8 drops citronella (Aura Cacia, regular)