Health & Wellness

Author: Stacy Karen

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
– William Arthur Ward

Today is World Smile Day! 

Do you feel better when you smile? How about when someone flashes a genuine grin at you? 

With the need to wear masks while out and about this year, many of us have missed seeing each other smile. You don’t always know how much something as simple as a smile can impact you until it’s gone! 

Mask or no, keep smiling because it helps relieve stress and boost mood. Some suggest smiling can actually have a positive impact on blood pressure and the immune system. 

Giving and receiving smiles is good for the mind, body, and soul! 

I don’t know about you, but I am self-conscious about smiling when my teeth or mouth aren’t feeling up to par. This could be bad breath, yellowing teeth, or any other dental issue. I figure the best way to ensure I smile more is to practice good oral hygiene. 

I’d say many of you would agree!

Besides smiling, what better way to celebrate Smile Day than taking good care of our teeth?

To help us take care of our teeth and gums, I’ve created three simple recipes for you. Each of these can be made in a matter of minutes and provides wonderful all-natural mouth care without a side of toxic chemicals (which you’ll find in many dental products). 

Read more



It’s back to school and that means back to school lunches! As busy moms, we are always looking for new ideas, and inspiration — “What do we pack in those lunch boxes?”

Same old, same old. That sandwich, those leftovers. How can I brighten up my kid’s lunches?

So, I thought I would go on a hunt for fun ideas to share in this guest post.

Packing the same thing day after day is boring for both me and the kids. So, it’s important to find ways to make lunches creative, but simple enough to make at the early hours of the morning.

I have rounded up 5 fun ideas and tips to liven up that school lunch:

• Healthy foods can also be fun foods. Besides carrots and vegetables in colorful containers, why not add a couple of Manuka Honey Sticks. Kids love these and they are healthy and fun to eat.
• Put a colorful envelope in your child’s lunchbox. Write a little note and put in a couple of Manuka Honey Chocolates in the envelope. Pure happiness in a box!
• Add a little exotic touch to your child’s lunch with a bento box packed with vegetables, cold noodles and a Manuka Honey Lollipop for dessert.
• Chips and more chips; how can a kid not love them — even more, if they are healthy. Pack a packet of Proper Crisps Kumara Sweet Potato Crisps in that lunchbox for an extra special treat!
• Say I love you with a home-baked Chewy Honey Chip Cookie.
• Make their lunches fun again and get them involved – ask them to choose their favorite veggies to snack on or choose their just “desserts.”
• One of my favorites as a child (and still is) was a sandwich with peanut butter, banana slices and a drizzle of honey (what better than New Zealand Multiflora Honey).

In closing, keep your kids excited by telling them that they have “something special” in their lunch, but “don’t open it until lunchtime”.

Putting a smile on your children’s face is well worth the extra effort to give them healthy goodness in every bite!

Health is wealth no matter how we look at it. We have only one body and we are responsible for taking care of it.

Nowadays, we are too busy to make healthy options. We opt to choose ways that can make our lives easier even if it can badly affect our health. But with the health crisis that we are facing right now, we should turn a new leaf over and start on a holistic wellness approach and redirect our health choices to a better one to boost our immune system and improve our overall health and wellness.

Manuka Honey can be used on just about any food of your choice but it is more than just making your food delicious. It offers a variety of health goodness like digestive help, immune support, energy-booster, and wound healing. You can savor the value of Manuka honey products for your day to day health and wellness practices as well.

Here is a range of Manuka honey products to help you become fit and healthy inside and out.

• Propolis Soap with Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil

Propolis Soap with Manuka Honey & Tea Tree Oil is a soft and gentle cleansing soap that offers the goodness of Propolis, Manuka Oil and Raw Manuka Honey. It will become the only soap you will ever need.

Propolis Soap is fit for all skin types. It moisturizes the skin and provides necessary nutrients to delicate skin tissues. It is used for face, hands, and body.

This unique, natural soap brings together the healing potential of Manuka Honey and Botanical Oils. Its anti-bacterial and antifungal properties help clear skin problems and different types of skin rashes.

• Manuka Honey Hand Cream

Using Manuka Honey Hand Cream is an ideal way to maintain your hands nourished and healthy.

Manuka honey hand cream is made up of natural ingredients such as exotic botanicals and manuka honey that are combined to help restore and improve the skin's rejuvenation process.

• Manuka Oil

Manuka oil is refined from the Manuka trees in New Zealand where it has been treasured for generations by the indigenous Maori people. It can be used as a topical agent and also as an aromatherapy.

Manuka oil is known to have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It has many wonderful uses on the skin such as fast healing of skin blemishes and skin irritation. It can also be used as a practical way to treat skin and scarring caused by acne.

Manuka oil has a very sweet and aromatic scent. Diffusing manuka at night helps impart feelings of calmness and promotes restful sleep.

• Manuka Honey Wound And Burn Dressing

Manuka honey has antioxidant and natural healing components that make it a good burn ointment. It helps prevent infection, soothes and speeds up natural wound repair.

15+ Bio Active Manuka Wound & Burn Dressing contains Manuka Honey and is being used as a topical agent that helps in the natural management of skin healing due to cuts and burns.

• Manuka Honey & Propolis Lozenges

If your throat is feeling dry or sore, just chew or suck a manuka honey lozenge to keep that sore away.

Manuka Honey Lozenge is great for sore throat, coughs, and colds. It relieves sore throat by calming irritated tissues of the throat. Propolis boosts your immune system as well as helps with healing mouth sores and irritated throats. Manuka Honey with UMF 10+ helps improve your immune system.

• Natural Vitamin E Cream

Vitamin E plays an important role in the proper function of many organs in the body. It is a powerful antioxidant that fights off free radicals and slows down processes that damage cells.

Natural Vitamin E Cream can be very useful for a range of skin conditions. It assists in skin repair and cellular restoration from sun damage to improve healing scars or burns. It rebuilds moisture balance and deeply nourishes the skin. High-Strength Manuka honey MGO 300+, with an abundance of skin-loving nutrients including Avocado oil, Apricot kernel oil, and Evening primrose oil, helps to reveal healthier more youthful- looking skin. Boost your immunity while reducing fine lines, redness, and wrinkles.

• Propolis & Tea Tree Toothpaste

Propolis and tea tree oil are known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Propolis and tea tree toothpaste is fresh and mild that gently cleanses and protects gums. This toothpaste has an invigorating mechanism that is effective against plaque formation and gingivitis making the teeth and gums healthy and leaves the teeth feeling clean and bright. 

• Propolis and Manuka Honey Cough Elixir

Propolis and Manuka Honey Cough Elixir is an all-natural cough elixir. It contains New Zealand CPL™ Bee Propolis Tincture which is high in Bioflavanoids, and NPA 10+ (MG 265+) Manuka Honey and is specially formulated to relieve the symptoms of a dry cough.

Whatever Manuka Honey products you choose to use, make sure to use these products for their health benefits. After all, wellness is becoming aware and making the right choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

 Author: Stacy Karen

This year taking care of our health (and the health of our families) is even more important than ever! 

During back-to-school season it is paramount that we incorporate wellness supporting foods and supplements in order to bolster and support the immune system as well as our overall health. 

As we get back to our studies and school routines, we might also find ourselves craving a sweet treat here and there.  Many sweet treats are nothing more than empty calories, but our manuka-based candies and lozenges include health-enhancing ingredients that support wellbeing  

Below you’ll find five of our favorite treats and immune system boosters to support you though back-to-school season and beyond:

Manuka Honey

Manuka honey has unique properties not found in any other type of honey known as MGO (methylglyoxal) aka NPA (non -peroxide activity), which makes it useful in supporting the body in various ways. Many consume it daily to promote general well-being, support digestive health, and also utilize its antibacterial powers to dress minor wounds and burns. (Source - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26061489). 

Take this by the spoonful each morning as a “supplement,” spread on toast, or incorporate into snacks, such as energy balls. 
Consume 2-3 teaspoons per day. 

Manuka Honey Sticks

A great portable treat. Manuka honey sticks are an excellent way to take the health benefits of manuka honey on the go. Eat honey straight from the stick or stir into tea or coffee, as desired. It's a great treat for kids' lunch boxes too! 
Our Manuka honey sticks come in packs of 10. Get them in original Manuka honey flavor or Lemon Twist. 

Manuka and Propolis Lozenges

A powerful combination, manuka and propolis lozenges are perfect for soothing tickly throats and supporting the immune system. (Source - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6335834/)

Propolis extract is a complex chemical that consists of proteins, amino acids, vitamins, trace minerals, and flavonoids which is processed by honeybees from the resin they collect from trees and plants. Bees use propolis to keep their hives free of infections and safe to raise their young. Us, humans, use it as a natural or homeopathic treatment for a variety of health conditions to keep us strong and well protected. 

Our lozenges are free of unhealthy dyes and sweeteners (like high fructose corn syrup) and come in Lemon and Honey, Aniseed, and Strawberry flavors. 

Manuka Honey and Propolis Lollipops

Loved by children & adults, our Manuka Honey and Propolis lollipops, support the body with bioflavonoids (from the Propolis), Manuka Honey MGO 263+, NPA (Non Peroxide Activity) 10+, and also include Menthol to help fight off infections.  

In fact, our lollipops are the same formula as our lozenges, just on a stick! This makes them safer for kids while providing the same great benefits. Added bonus, your kids will think they are getting a treat!

Our Manuka Honey and Propolis Lollipops are available in lemon and strawberry flavors. 

Manuka Honey Nuggets

A natural energy boost, manuka honey nuggets satisfy sweet tooth cravings and provide the health benefits of manuka honey is a conveniently portable package. A perfect little lunchbox treat or after-dinner candy, our manuka nuggets are much like hard candy, but with the benefits of manuka honey! 
Include in a lunchbox or keep a stash in your purse for any time cravings arise or your energy begins to feel depleted. 

Manuka Honey nuggets are available in four flavors: Manuka Honey, Lemon & Honey, Ginger & Honey, and Cherry & Honey. 
Supporting our health and immune system can be quite delicious, if we do say so ourselves! 

Incorporating manuka and propolis into your daily routine is a great way to boost overall wellness and strengthen the immune system. 

We think you’ll find including manuka honey, lozenges, and lollipops in your back-to-school health plan a worthwhile endeavor. Your taste buds will thank you, too! 

Author: Stacy Karen

Flu, we have all had it and we certainly don’t want it. But time and time again, there are moments when our body’s immune system fails us and we find ourselves waking up in the morning with one or more symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever and chills. Sometimes we do not want to go out of bed because of body pains and muscle aches.

A person with flu can easily transmit the virus to other person through droplets like coughing, sneezing or talking and it can enter thru the nose and mouth. But once you had acquired the flu virus, what you can do is help your body to recover using natural methods!  It is important to keep your hands clean by doing frequent handwashing and by using products best for flu season such as those with propolis, a compound made by bees which helps fight infections.

Manuka Honey & Propolis Lozenges- these lozenges are great in relieving itchiness caused by sore throat, one of the symptoms of flu.

CPL® Bee Propolis Extract - is nature’s defense system making it an essential ingredient for maintaining a healthy immune system. CPL® means Certified Propolis Levels and guarantees you're getting the highest quality, active propolis.

PRI Propolis and Manuka Honey Cough Elixir - is specifically formulated to relieve the symptoms of a dry cough. They also contain New Zealand CPL™ Bee Propolis Tincture which is high in Bioflavanoids, and NPA 10+ (MG 265+) Manuka Honey.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/default.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm

There is a reason you love our award winning Lemon & Honey Lozenges and Cough Syrup (2016 Better Nutrition – Best of Supplements Award), and why we here are Pacific Resources International believe that natural and simple are the best for a healthy life style! Using the traditional cold formula of natural Lemon and combining it with New Zealand Active UMF Manuka honey with immune building CPL* Bee Propolis in our Lemon & Manuka Honey products helps enable our bodies fight off infection as nature intended. You can also try a Hot Lemon & Manuka Honey drink when a sore throat hits: just mix a spoon full of our Active Manuka Honey, a good squeeze of fresh Lemon juice, and hot water in your favorite mug and feel the relief!

Medical Doctors in the UK speak out and return to Nature for results…

“Cough medicines are ‘waste of money’ and you’re better off trying honey and lemon, say doctors.

Adds simplest and cheapest treatment for a short-term cough may be a homemade remedy containing lemon and honey.

Cough medicines are waste of money, doctors declared today. Both NHS (National Health Service in the UK)bosses and leading GPs have dismissed the products – and say traditional homemade remedies with lemon or honey to be the best approach…

… ‘There’s little evidence to suggest cough medicines actually work, although some ingredients may help treat symptoms associated with a cough, such as a blocked nose or fever.’ The webpage adds that the ‘simplest and cheapest’ treatment for a ‘short-term cough’ may be a homemade remedy containing lemon and honey…

…A Which( Testing Company) investigation two years ago said found many popular cough medicines do not work as well as they claim to. The report authors concluded that studies used to support the claims of effectiveness are often low quality. Many also contain high doses of sugar, with one week of the adult maximum dose of a popular product containing as much sugar as five Mars bars…”

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cough/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2793863/cough-medicines-waste-money-better-trying-honey-lemon-say-doctors.html#ixzz3GG8RWPZP

Update:

More support for Manuka Honey:

Adding a little Manuka honey to your hot tea, smoothie, or even oatmeal, might help you fend off infections.

In recent research, microbiologist Elizabeth Harry of the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, found that “when tested against other honeys, Manuka honey was the most effective at inhibiting the growth of all the bacteria.”

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/health/5-uncommon-tips-to-beat-a-cold-or-the-flu-105881337133.html

Your skin is our largest organ. It helps your body release toxins and protects it from the environment. When injured, your skin does a remarkable job of repairing damaged tissue.

Lemon and Manuka Honey are nature’s gift to our skin. Here are the natural treatments that will leave your skin feeling bright and smooth. Fresh lemons remove dead skin cells, blackheads, acne, and discoloration. Manuka Honey is a natural antioxidant and antibacterial agent that is a natural moisturizer.

Try these effective Manuka Honey beauty recipes at home:

Blackheads Treatment:

Mix a slice of lemon and a teaspoon of Manuka Honey into a bowl and apply to your face. You should notice your blackheads starting to fade over time.

Dandruff Treatment:

Before you shampoo, mix in a teaspoon of lemon juice, Manuka Honey, and a tablespoon of coconut oil. Massage into your scalp for few minutes. Rinse and wash after 30 mins for soft and silky hair.

Acne Remedy:

Because Manuka Honey is antibacterial it can help for spots and blemishes. Combine lemon juice with a little Manuka Honey UMF 10+ for a spot treatment. Dab the mixture on the acne and leave it on for 15 minutes or overnight and rinse off.

Skin Brightener:

Make a hydrating mask with Manuka Honey by mixing two teaspoons with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Spread on your clean skin. Let it sit until dry. The honey will hydrate your skin, and lemon will brighten it.

Prevent Breakouts:

Prevent future breakouts by using Manuka Honey UMF 10+ as a cleanser. Mix Manuka Honey with a small amount of lemon juice to clean and clear skin.

As an Exfoliant to Treat Dryness:

Mix lemon juice, Manuka Honey and sugar for a body scrub to slough away dry skin and moisturize it naturally.

Minimize Pores:

This mask detoxes, tightens pores and deep cleans your skin. Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with one tablespoon of Manuka Honey. Apply the mixture to clean skin and let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse it off well. Repeat a couple of times a week.

Apply to Stretch Marks:

Mix lemon juice with Manuka Honey and apply a thin layer on the stretch marks before going to bed. The acidic nature of lemon helps to lessen the visibility of the fine lines on the skins, while the honey will moisturize your skin.

Your Skin Deserves YOU!

Take care of your skin to look and feel great with that natural glow!

Manuka Honey has been so popular for its antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. It is also commonly used as an aid to support the immune system. It is known to heal minor cuts and scrapes, help soothe sore throats, improve digestive symptoms and reduce inflammation caused by acne. 

Manuka honey is collected by the bees from the manuka bush that originated from Australia and New Zealand. It is more potent because it has a higher level of methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO or methylglyoxal is a component which makes Manuka honey so special.

What is inflammation?

Manuka honey is naturally used to help lessen inflammation for some health conditions since the early years. But what specifically is inflammation?

Inflammation is the physiological reaction of the body to fight infection and injury. It is our body’s way of communicating with the immune system to defend it against any unfamiliar invaders, such as the bacteria, viruses or any pathogens and without inflammation; wounds will become more serious and deadly.

Acute inflammation is a short- term response with restricted effects. It develops usually after a scrape, a sore throat or a sprained ankle while the chronic inflammation can have a long- term and broad effect and can possibly lead to a certain disease.

Can Manuka Honey help?

There is no solid scientific evidence that Manuka honey can reduce inflammation, however, there are a quite number of clinical trials which reported  that there is a reduced symptom of inflammation following the application of honey to wounds. Some of which found to have a soothing effect after application to wounds and burns. There was a decrease of exudates on the wound after it was dressed with honey, which is a good sign for controlling inflamed wounds.

 In conclusion, further studies are needed to back-up if Manuka honey can really be a big help for inflammatory conditions. For now, what we can do if there is an inflammation is to follow proper proven procedures that may help lessen the inflammation. We can include Manuka honey as an immune system booster as well. 

References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/manuka-honey#research

https://www.manukahealth.co.nz/en-nz/manuka-honey/what-is-mgo/

https://www.livescience.com/52344-inflammation.html

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271935464_The_anti-inflammatory_and_wound_healing_properties_of_honey

Pacific Sea Salt is a natural assistant for balance, protection, and restoration of the body and skin.

New Zealand’s Pacific Sea Salt is obtained from solar evaporation of sea water. This is one of the major differences from modernly refined salt. This powerful salt contains a variety of minerals that play a role in keeping the body’s electrolytes in a healthy balance.

As the weather changes it alters your skin balance. By adding Pacific Sea Salt to your beauty practice, you can help improve balance and hydration.

Shopping list:

• Fine Pacific Sea Salt
• Manuka Honey +5
• Tea Tree Oil
• Manuka Oil 80% in Sweet Almond Oil

Here are a few hacks to add to your daily routine.

1. 1. Balancing Mask Both salt and honey have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe skin and calm irritation.

      Mix 2 teaspoons Fine Pacific Sea Salt with 4 teaspoons Manuka Honey +5 to create a spreadable paste. Apply to clean, dry skin, avoiding eye area. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Before rinsing, soak a washcloth in very warm water, wring out. Lay the warm washcloth on your face for 30 seconds. Use your fingers in a circular motion while rinsing your skin with tepid water.

   2. Facial Toner Pacific Sea Salt helps cleanse pores and balance oil production.

      Mix 1 teaspoon Fine Pacific Sea Salt with 4 ounces of warm water in small spray bottle. Shake until all salt dissolves. Spray on clean, dry skin, avoiding eyes. Use daily or twice daily.

   3. Body Scrub Pacific Sea Salt is a gentle natural exfoliate that cleans off dead skin. It’s natural minerals aid in softening skin and restoring hydration.

      Mix a 1/4 Pacific Sea Salt and a 1/2 cup coconut oil into a thick paste. Add 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil. Apply in the shower with a washcloth scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

   4. Rejuvenating Scrub Pacific Sea Salt is a skin-softening exfoliant that restores skin.
      Mix together a 1/2 cup Pacific Sea Salt, a 1/4 cup aloe vera gel, a 1/4 cup coconut oil, and 10 drops Manuka Oil 80% in Sweet Almond Oil. The resulting mixture should form a thick paste. Apply in the shower with a washcloth, scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

Get your beauty game on and enjoy!

Maintaining healthy skin is not easy. Smoke, pollution, UV rays and caffeine produce free radicals in our body which can easily damage the skin. Stress and lack of sleep also speed up the process of aging. We are too busy working ourselves out, pressured in chasing our dreams to the extent of getting burnt out and not having enough time to pamper ourselves. But with this pandemic that we are facing right now, we are advised to stay at home thus giving us more time to take care of ourselves. 

Let us take time to know ourselves better. Recharge and realize what we need most for us to flourish. Grab this opportunity to lavishly reward ourselves by doing our self- care routines without being time- conscious. 

To help you decide and get started on your self- care routines, here are effective natural products with Manuka honey sourced from New Zealand bees for your skin care.

• Biohoney® Avocado and Rosehip Cream Cleanser

Cleansing creams are used to wash and moisturize your skin. It helps get rid of dirt and sweat. Although there are a lot of these cleansing creams that can be found in the market, you still have to choose the one that best suits your skin type.

Biohoney®Avocado and Rosehip Cream Cleanser is a gentle cleanser that purifies impurities while reinvigorating your skin. It has a combination of Avocado oil, purifying Rosehip oil and Manuka honey to help regenerate and improve damaged skin. 

• Biohoney® Grapeseed Eye Cream

Biohoney® Grapeseed Eye Cream is not just a nutrient rich but also a gentle cream that is specifically developed for the most sensitive skin types. It has features of Grapeseed oil- packed with age defying Vitamin E and Omega- 6 fatty acids. It has Avocado oils and Manuka Honey MGO 300+ that helps nourish and restore damaged skin.

• Certified Organic Bee Venom Mask

Biohoney® Rejuvenating Bee Venom Mask will give you a more radiant and more youthful skin. It has combinations of powerful age-defying ingredients like bee venom and New Zealand Tree Fern extract.

• Biohoney® Natural Acne Cream

This Natural Acne Cream aids in the breakdown of acne. It soothes and replenishes the skin with its natural ingredients, the power of 20% Manuka honey MGO 300+ and Manuka oil that promotes clearer and healthier skin.

• Biohoney® Natural Vitamin E Cream

Reveal a healthier and more youthful looking skin with Biohoney® Natural Vitamin E Cream. It gently glides into your skin, moisturizes and deeply nourishes to give you a more glowing skin. It has combinations of High-Strength Manuka honey MGO 300+, with an abundance of skin-loving nutrients including Avocado oil, Apricot kernel oil and Evening primrose oil.

Personalize your beauty regimen according to your needs to achieve a better version of yourself!

Furthermore, Manuka honey has a lot to offer. Apart from keeping your skin nourished, it has plenty of health benefits to give you . Treat yourself for a healthy snack, have some Manuka honey candies to help boost your immune system. Discover and enjoy the unique and amazing properties of Manuka Honey.

PRI’s Manuka Honey and New Zealand Sea Salt Soap is one of our New Additions!

This handcrafted, moisturizing soap combines the healing power of Manuka Honey, nourishing Botanical Oils, and all natural New Zealand solar dried sea salt to bring out the best in your skin. Try this nourishing and luxurious Manuka Honey Soap it will leave your hands feeling clean and refreshed.

Pacific Resources International is the only place you can find all your favorite Manuka Honey and New Zealand Sea Salt products.

Ingredients: Sodium Hydroxide(Lye), Distilled Water, Non GMO Olice Oil, Unrefined Organic Shea Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Non GMO Sweet Almond Oil, Goat Milk, Raw Manuka Honey, New Zealand Pacific Sea Salt