Health & Wellness

Pssst.. we have an age-old skin-treatment recipe. Say goodbye to overpriced, chemical laden anti-wrinkle creams with this all natural DIY cream! This homemade cream is perfect for hydrating your skin, brightening your complexion, and giving your skin a warm glow!

Shopping List:

• Manuka Oil in Sweet Almond Oil
• New Zealand Manuka Honey

Ingredients:

• 1 egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons of Manuka Oil in Sweet Almond Oil
• ½ tablespoon of New Zealand Manuka Honey
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil

Preparation:

Melt the coconut oil and mix in the Manuka Honey, egg yolk, and Manuka Oil until you get a smooth, creamy mixture. Pour the mixture into an empty container and let chill.

To Use:

Apply your all natural anti-wrinkle cream on the freshly cleansed skin with your middle finger, using light circular movements. After 30 minutes, clean the remaining cream with a wet cotton ball. Make sure to keep your wrinkle-fighting cream in the fridge when not in use.

Give your locks a glowing look with this easy homemade shampoo. Castor oil is an excellent source of unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. Combined with Manuka Honey, it provides a nourishing shampoo that restores your follicles and boosts hair health.

Shopping List:

• Manuka Honey
• Castille Soap and Castor Oil are available at Jet.com as well as many of Pacific Resource International Manuka products.

 Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of castor oil
• 1 teaspoon of Castille soap
• 2 teaspoons of coconut milk
• ½ teaspoon of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of Manuka Honey

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and use as a regular shampoo.

Summer is almost coming to an end and Fall is just around the corner. Weather changes and the temperature slowly drops. Cozy fires & hot chocolate days are on the horizon...unfortunately, so is the cold & flu season.

Influenza, commonly known as the “flu”, is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. Most common symptoms include: fever, runny nose, sore throat, and cough.[1]

There are a lot of home remedies that can help relieve the symptoms and can get you back to normal shape in no time. One of the natural ways to help reduce flu symptoms is Manuka honey. 

Manuka Honey contains antioxidants, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that have been shown to help fight against common flu symptoms. Manuka honey has been found to reduce inflammation when you have a sore throat. [2] Manuka honey also helps support the immune system, which helps you to recover faster and reduces the chances of having flu in the future.[3]

How to take Manuka Honey as a possible natural remedy for flu:

1. Take 2-3 tbsp of Manuka honey for immune support or as soon as you spot some flu symptoms.
2. Add a teaspoonful of Manuka honey to a glass of warm water. Consume this mixture every morning to help soothe throat irritation caused by the flu.
3. Beat colds and flu with Manuka honey, ginger and lemon drink. Combine 3 tbsps of Manuka honey with a squeeze of lemon juice, grate an inch of fresh ginger,add boiling water, and let it stand for 20mins.  Miix well and enjoy the healthy goodness of Manuka honey.[4]
4. For dry cough, take Propolis and Manuka Honey Cough Elixir as directed, a powerful all natural cough elixir specifically directed to relieve symptoms of a dry cough.
5. To soothe sore throat, dissolve a Manuka honey and Propolis lozenge in your mouth. It combines the power of CPL 15 Propolis with the soothing qualities of pure New Zealand NPA 10+ (MG 265+) active Manuka honey. 

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/symptoms-causes/syc-20351719

https://manukahoney.co.uk/blog/65-got-a-cold.html

Most popular commercial body care products contain dangerous chemicals that are harmful to our bodies. This has lead many people to opt for beauty and body care products made with clean, natural ingredients.

Lye in Soap 

Getting informed about what ingredients are in the products we use is important. For instance, when looking at the ingredients in our PRI Manuka Honey and Sea Salt Soap you notice Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) first on the list. Many would be shocked to find themselves using a product with Lye as the top ingredient. For many natural body care products the ingredients can be a bit misleading. In fact, there is no true soap without lye and there’s a huge difference between “made with lye” and “containing lye”. Don’t worry, the good news is that soap-makers rely on the chemistry behind the soap making process to produce an all-natural and effective product.

The Chemistry of Soap

Soap is the result of a chemical reaction called saponification that occurs between lye and a type of molecule called a triglyceride (a fat or oil), where both substances are chemically transformed, creating soap and natural glycerin. Neither of the original ingredients exists anymore. All the lye – sodium hydroxide for bar soap is consumed in the reaction.

You can be assured that Pacific Resources’ Manuka Honey and Sea Salt Soap is the purest and most gentle on the skin. Here’s why: Think of hydrogen and oxygen. Left alone, these gases are very dangerous, but when combined in the right amounts (H2O) – you get water which is essential for life.

Lye is an ingredient in pure soap. It is caustic, but when combined with the right amounts of oil and water, makes the purest form of soap. Soap that not only cleans, but leaves skin hydrated. Our Manuka soaps have additional oils to “super fat” the bars making them even more hydrating.

Finally, Manuka Honey Soap has the added healing qualities of Manuka honey and the natural value of Pacific Sea Salt. So next time you use PRI’s Manuka Honey and Sea Salt Soap remember you are not using lye on your skin, you’re using soap.

Source:

Botanie Soap, “The Truth about Lye and Soap”, September 16, 2016, http://botaniesoap.com/blog/the-truth-about-lye-and-organic-soap/

Are you looking for a skin care treatment that will make your skin look smooth and fresh? Look no more, because today, we are going to talk about honey tapping. Have you heard of honey tapping before? Honey tapping is a single- ingredient skin care that will make your skin clear and glowing and one of the best honeys to use is Manuka honey. 

What is Manuka honey?

Manuka honey is a honey sourced from the manuka tree in Australia and New Zealand. It is packed with incredible skin care benefits because it has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.  What makes it special is that it has higher levels of “Methylglyoxal”- an ingredient responsible for antibacterial effects of Manuka honey. 

Benefits of Honey Tapping to Skin

• Antibacterial and antimicrobial cleansing
• Exfoliation
• Removal of clogged pores and blackheads

How It’s Done

Click the link for a video tutorial: How to Apply Manuka Honey Tapping

Now that you know the benefits of Manuka honey tapping, grab a Manuka honey real quick and level up your skin care routine to achieve a healthier and natural glowing skin that you’ll surely love.

Source:

1.http://mosskincare.com/can-honey-tapping-help-acne/

The first step in beauty maintenance for the winter is to make sure that your lips are soft, supple, and healthy during the changing cold seasons. All the makeup in the world can’t fix dry and cracking lips. So we at Pacific Resources International went to work searching for the best possible cure for dryness on sensitive areas like lips, using all natural ingredients.

We quickly discovered that the secret all-natural bounty of moisture was right in front of our eyes: our very own Manuka Honey! Manuka Honey is a fantastic, all-natural way to repair and moisturize dry and damaged lips. The hygroscopic glycerin in Manuka Honey has been proven to absorb moisture from the air and to draw moisture into the skin.

Introducing our brand new Manuka Honey Lip Balm! Made with all organic ingredients! 

Our new Manuka Honey Lip Balm packs the incredible skin benefits of our Manuka Honey straight from New Zealand along with specially formulated organic ingredients all into_­ a convenient lip balm container, just in time for the holidays! Hydration from Manuka Honey can not only improve the elasticity and cell regeneration of skin but it also actively promotes healing!

Instead of simply moisturizing your dry lips, PRI’s Manuka Honey Lip Balm will protect, restore, and hydrate them! Perfect for stocking stuffers or for your own use this holiday season. Make sure your lips are in perfect shape with our brand new Manuka Honey Lip Balm available now on shoppri.com!

Yea!!! Spring break is almost here. So where are you heading? Whatever your destination, you still need a list to make sure you pack everything you need.

I always try to plan in advance so that I don’t get stuck packing or planning last minute. So here are some of my travel go-tos:

My Toiletries:

Besides the obvious, shampoo, makeup, here are some of the not so obvious:

Hand Cream. Planes are dehydrating. To keep my skin soft and moisturized to look radiant on your holiday. I reach for PRI’s award-winning Manuka Honey Tropical Coconut Lime Hand Cream. They have two other scents which are equally good but this one is my favorite. I have a thing for lime.

Lip Balm. The sun, wind, ocean, certain foods… a million things can make your lips feel dry and uncomfortable. I reach for PRI’s award-winning Manuka Honey Lip Balm. I throw it in my purse and apply it a few times a day.

On the Road Essentials:

We normally stay in self-hosted apartments, so I bring my preferred soap and toothpaste. I pack PRI’s Propolis and Tea Tree Toothpaste. It keeps my mouth fresh and clean, especially after those rich foods we eat on the road that are heavy on garlic and spices. I also love the Manuka Honey Sea Salt Soap. Besides smelling amazing and adding a faboo scent to my clothes in the suitcase. It’s a lovely bath-spa experience.

My Wellness Care:

Manuka Honey offers a few first aid items that may help with some minor travel mishaps.

Bruises from lugging those suitcases? No problem, for this I pull out the Nectar Balm Bee Venom Cream and apply it at night before bed to help ease any discomfort. I also carry Manuka Oil for sunburn. When I wash my hair with hotel conditioner, I add a few drops of the oil for softer hair.

I DO NOT want to catch a cold from all that travel. I pack a box of Manuka Honey Lozenges to tackle the dry throat along with a few Manuka Honey Sticks. This seems to do the dry mouth trick. The honey sticks, in particular, give me a boost of energy when I am wandering around sightseeing.

Quick Energy Snack:

My all-time favorite: Salted Manuka Honey Caramels!!! I LOVE them! Just put a few in your purse and take them anywhere. They are delicious and best of all they are also good for you.

So happy packing and Bon Voyage. See you around! ✈️ 🛥️

The tiny world of bees is a magical place and propolis (a bee resin) just can’t stay out of the lime light in the research world. A recent review on literature has shown that propolis is an effective natural ingredient that can be used for prevention and treatment in dentistry and oral care. The review covered a multitude of studies published in PubMed and the research found that propolis is natural additive effective at reducing a variety of dental issues.

It was shown to be helpful in reducing dental canaries, helping with tissue repair and root growth after surgery, eliminates bacteria build up and reduces inflammation, helps with bone formation while enduring orthodontics, and reduces tooth sensitivity.

Propolis containing products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes are a great way to access the wonders of propolis. The propolis in these helps prevent dental canaries by inhibiting glucan synthesis reducing the acid formation which breaks down teeth and causes cavities. The extract when added to water and used as a mouthwash was shown to kill the bacteria that causes chronic gingivitis and topical application of propolis in an alcohol base was found to help repair surgical wounds by accelerating epithelial growth. So don’t miss out on all the benefits and pick up some pure propolis oral care products direct from the clean and pure country of New Zealand imported by Pacific Resources International for the last 30 years.

Sources

Sardana, D., InduShekar, K., Manchanda, S., Saraf, B. G., & Sheoran, N. (2013). Role of propolis in dentistry: review of the literature. Focus On Alternative & Complementary Therapies, 18(3), 118-125 8p. doi:10.1111/fct.12034

An All Natural, Award Winning Relief for the Common Cold Has Arrived!

Tis’ the season for sore throats! With the seasons changing and the cold weather approaching, we at Pacific Resources International have important things on our mind. One of those things is the scary side effects of cough medicine. We wanted to find an all natural relief for the common cold using the healing properties of Manuka Honey and Bee Propolis.

We are proud to announce that our Lemon and Honey Cough Elixir was awarded the 2016 Best of Supplements Winner from the Better Nutrition Magazine!

Our Cough Elixir uses a unique homeopathic formula with the active ingredient Bryonia, New Zealand bee propolis which is high in Bioflavanoids, and Manuka Honey that is specifically formulated to relieve symptoms of a dry cough.

Why choose PRI’s Lemon and Honey Cough Elixir over regular cough syrup? We believe that in order to heal your body, you need all natural ingredients.

Our Cough Elixir has absolutely:

• No high fructose corn syrup or other type of corn syrup
• No artificial colors or flavor
• No alcohol

An all natural cold relief that’s perfect for kids! Soothing honey and yummy flavors make relieving a scratchy throat that much easier. This season, keep your kids feeling 100% with our award winning Children’s Lemon Honey Cough Elixir or our Children’s Strawberry Cough Elixir!

 Upper respiratory-tract infections (URTI) occur most commonly in childhood. On average, a healthy three-year old child suffers from 6-10 colds per year. These types of colds are generally mild but the symptoms can cause a fever and make your child irritable, lethargic and uncomfortable. According to the world health organization, respiratory infections account for 20% of medical consultations, 30% of days lost from work and 75% of antibiotic prescriptions in the USA, Canada, and Western Europe. But how do our children end up with these respiratory infections? Viral infections in childhood can come from many things these include attendance at daycare centers, contact with elder siblings, smoking at home and lack of breast feeding. So what’s the first thing we do when our baby has an awful cough? We head down to the local pharmacy and get a good non-prescriptive children’s cough and cold medicine. But these are not always effective in reducing the recovery time and can often have adverse effects including toxicity with unintentional overdose if we aren’t careful. More is not always better when it comes to cough medicines. So what should we do to stop this and keep our children healthy? Do your research!

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAMs) and it won’t be the last. CAMs are not taught widely in medical schools but they are products that are used in addition to or as a replacement for traditional western medicine. Why are we bringing this up? Because studies have been done on what herbal medicines may be a good CAM to help support our children’s lungs and keep them breathing well throughout the school year. Many of the studies have looked at Echinacea and Vitamin C but today we are going to look at what research says about propolis.

In a study done in Romania they found that the treatment of upper respiratory infections with a tincture containing propolis decreased and sometimes suppressed viral activity in the upper airways. It does this through its anti-viral anti-inflammatory properties known as flavones. Other clinical results supporting its effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of upper respiratory tract infection have been published in Germany and only from trials among adults. But we found a study that took place at 10 primary care pediatric community clinics in Israel. In this study there were 430 children age 1-5 and each was randomly assigned a propolis elixir or a placebo. The results of this study demonstrate, for the first time, that an herbal preparation containing an extract of propolis did have a significant beneficial effect on the incidence and severity of respiratory tract infections in young children. In another study by Crisan et al a lower incidence of URTIs and symptoms were found in a group of preschool children treated with a propolis preparation for 5 months. Additional studies are needed in larger samples to confirm these findings but this has hopefully opened the door to propolis being used as in clinics. In the mean time check out PRI’s Propolis and Manuka honey cough elixir  or the PRI Children's Propolis and Manuka Honey Lollipops to help keep your kids healthy and well.

***As with all bee products please make sure your child does not have any allergies before giving them these supplements. If you are unsure check with your doctor**

Sources

Crişan, I., Zaharia, C. N., Popovici, F., Jucu, V., Belu, O., Dascălu, C., & … Petrescu, A. (1995). Natural propolis extract NIVCRISOL in the treatment of acute and chronic rhinopharyngitis in children. Romanian Journal Of Virology, 46(3-4), 115-133.

Cohen, H. A., Varsano, I., Kahan, E., Sarrell, E. M., & Uziel, Y. (2004). Effectiveness of an herbal preparation containing echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C in preventing respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 158(3), 217-221.

Del-Rio-Navarro, B. E., Espinosa-Rosales, F. J., Flenady, V. and Sienra-Monge, J. J. (2012), Cochrane Review: Immunostimulants for preventing respiratory tract infection in children. Evid.-Based Child Health, 7: 629–717. doi:10.1002/ebch.1833

Carr, R. R., & Nahata, M. C. (2006). Complementary and alternative medicine for upper-respiratory-tract infection in children. American journal of health-system pharmacy, 63(1).

Propolis contains more than 300 compounds, most of which are in the form of polyphenols. Polyphenols help fight disease and reverse damage to the body. Propolis contains a polyphenol known as flavonoids. These are typically for protection of the plant but are found to have antioxidant properties for humans. Research shows that propolis helps to provide protection from some bacteria, viruses and fungi.

In regards to its anti fungal properties, propolis contains a compound called pinocembrim which has been found to heal traumatic burns faster and speed up healthy cell growth. They are not sure exactly how it works, but  it does stimulate new healthy cell growth in the the epithelial (skin).

Currently propolis is founds in soaps, ointments and tinctures. These forms are used for treatment of cold sores, genital herpes, hair growth, wound healing and acne.

In a study by Miata they found that in mice propolis stimulates hair growth by inducing hair keratinocyte proliferation via its chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid components.

In another study propolis was found to help reduce inflammation of the skin, which can lead to open wounds, acne and cancer. The polyphenol compounds in propolis are very protective and help to protect against UVB damage that causes cancer. There absorption spectrum can filter UV radiation and reduce penetration of radiations into skin, and subsequently decrease DNA damage, oxidative stress and the degree of inflammation.

So if you suffer from acne, open wounds or inflammation of the skin, such as psoriasis, or eczema give Propolis Soap with Manuka Honey and Tea Tree Oil a try to reduce you body’s reactions to UVB or skin irritants.

Sources

Pompei Bolfa^a, Raluca Vidrighinescu^a,Andrei Petruta^b,Dan Dezmirean^c,Laura Stan^c,Laurian Vlase^d,Grigore Damian^e,Cornel Catoi^a,Adriana Filip^b,, , Simona Clichici^b. Photoprotective effects of Romanian propolis on skin of mice exposed to UVB irradiation

Shota Miyata, Yozo Oda, Chika Matsuo, Haruto Kumura, and Ken Kobayashi           Stimulatory Effect of Brazilian Propolis on Hair Growth through Proliferation of Keratinocytes in Mice.http://pubs.acs.org.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/doi/abs/10.1021/jf503184s

http://www.healthline.com/health/propolis-an-ancient-healer

International Self-Care Day was developed in 2011 by the International Self-Care Foundation as a day for everyone to be mindful of their health. This can be a simple bubble bath, a walk around the neighborhood, yoga, or anything that can help put your mind at ease. People are opening up about the importance of self care for your mental and physical health. Nowadays, everyone is too busy taking care of everything or everyone else in their life and forget about themselves. This is a day to be a little selfish by indulging on a little self care.

Here’s a few things we are doing for our self care

HONEY VANILLA BUBBLE BATH

• 1/2 cup light Manuka almond oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup mild liquid hand or body soap (Dr. Bronner’s is my fave)
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Combine ingredients and pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup under running water. Keep excess in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE FACE MASK

 

 

• 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1/4 Cup  Manuka Honey
• 1/4 Cup Strawberry Yogurt (or any flavor)

 

HOW TO MAKE A CHOCOLATE FACE MASK

1. Grab a small mixing bowl and Combine 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 cup Manuka honey and 1/4 cup yogurt in a small mixing bowl. Stir until it turns into a liquid mask.
2. After stirring if it looks like dough add in a bit more yogurt to get it to a creamy consistency.
3. Apply your face and allow it to soak into your skin for 15 minutes.
4. Rinse and enjoy the smell of your chocolate fresh skin.

 

10 MINUTE YOGA FLOW

1.TADASANA

Mountain Pose is a great place to start. Ground your feet and press evenly through all four corners of each foot. Stretch your arms towards the floor and draw your abdominals in and up.

Hold for five to eight breaths to get focused and ready to move deeper.

 

2. URDHVA HASTASANA

From Mountain Pose, lift your arms up overhead and press your palms firmly together. Keep the tops of your shoulders released away from your ears and activate your triceps. Keep the abdominals engaged and the legs firm.

Hold for five to eight breaths.

3. WARRIOR I

 

Warriors are always awesome to do in the AM. Warriors give us confidence and strength and help us connect to our own inner strength.

From Urdhva Hastasana, step your left foot back one of your own leg’s length apart. Press the outer left foot in to the mat as you lunge your right knee forward. The left foot should be pointing at a seventy-five degree angle. Make sure the knee stays above the ankle.

Hold for five to eight breaths.

4. WARRIOR II

From Warrior I Pose on the right side, open the arms, hips, and waist to the side as you gaze forward over your right hand. Your back toes can open up a bit more than seventy-five degrees, but keep the toes a little forward of the heel still. Make sure the front knee doesn’t roll in. Draw your abs in and and keep the torso even between the legs.

Stay and breathe for five to eight deep breaths.

5.TRIANGLE

 

From Warrior II, straighten the front leg and hinge forward placing the hand on the knee, shin, or a block. Imagine yourself between two narrow walls.

Hold for five to eight breaths, then come back up to standing.

6. EXTENDED SIDE ANGLE

Re-bend the front knee and place the outer right forearm on the upper right thigh. Extend the top arm overhead and lengthen from the outer edge of the left foot all the way through the left fingers.

Hold for five to eight breaths.

Drop your hands alongside the front foot and step forward, folding in to both legs. Come back up through Urdhva Hastasana and repeat postures 3-6 on the left side.

7. DOWNWARD DOG

After doing the postures on the left side, instead of folding forward, place both hands on the floor on either side of the left foot from Extended Side Angle and step the left foot back to meet the right as you come into Downward Facing Dog Pose.

Press firmly into your hands and roll your upper arms outwards. Lengthen up through your torso and keep your abdominals engaged. Actively use your legs to keep bringing your torso back in space.

Hold here for eight to ten breaths.

8. FOREARM PLANK

From Downward Facing Dog Pose, roll out to Plank (or drop to hands and knees) and place your forearms on the floor. Make sure your body forms a straight line from head to toe.

Keep your abdominals engaged and hold for thirty to sixty seconds to fire up your powerhouse for the day.

9.COBRA

Lower down to your belly from forearm plank, walk your hands slightly forward if need be, and lift your chest up into a Baby Cobra. Pull your shoulder blades together and down your back and breathe into the front of your body.

Hold for five breaths, lower down and repeat two more times.

10. CHILD’S POSE

Finish by pressing back to Child’s Pose to stretch the entire back body and focus on what you would like to achieve for the day. Stay as long as you can, or want to, and finish with Savasana, or press to stand and roll up for an incredible day.

 

INDULGE ON YOUR FAVORITE DESSERT

HONEY OATMEAL COOKIES

Oatmeal Cookies are one of my favorite desserts because they are easy to make and you can leave them simple or add some fun! In this recipe I added chocolate and butterscotch chips. I also cut the sugar in half by substituting our Manuka Honey. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did! 

YIELD: Makes 24 cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup PRI manuka honey

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats

• 1 cup whole wheat flour

• 1/4 tsp. PRI fine salt

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1 cup raisins, chocolate or butterscotch chips

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F

In medium bowl, beat butter & sugar until thoroughly blended. Blend in honey, egg and vanilla until smooth.

In separate bowl, mix together oats, flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Mix into honey mixture. Add chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes until cookies are golden brown.

Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing from baking sheet.

Cool completely then store in an airtight container.

TIP: High altitude adjustment: Increase oats to 2 cups and decrease whole wheat flour to 3/4 cup.

We hope you have a wonderfully relaxing day!