Hearts + Hands for Japan

"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts." (Shakespeare)

Milk and Honey is proud to be part of a long list of over 80 independent studios, artists and businesses contributing to the Hearts + Hands raffle to help Japan. This effort, organized by letterpress artist Lynn Russell of Satsuma Press, will sell $10 raffle tickets from now until April 6. 100% of the proceeds will go to relief efforts for Japan via Save the Children and Shelter Box.

Lynn says, "What has happened and is happening in Japan is heartbreaking – and I believe there are ways, both big and small, to help. There are so many people doing all they can to help. This is just what I think I can do, with the help of these amazing, talented friends – from the heart, made by our hands. I believe that what we can to together is more than what each one of us can do alone. "

I encourage you to buy many raffle tickets, peruse the links to all the incredible participating artists, spread the word about the raffle, or be inspired to create your own unique fundraiser to support the people of Japan.

You can also buy a raffle ticket by using this direct link to paypal.

Our Products can help Psoriasis & Excema

Research has shown that the magic combination of honey, beeswax and olive oil may relieve the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema--this is consistent with feedback from our own customers who have used our Honeybee Lotion Bars particularly, but of course our Nanny Goat Milk Soaps are made of this natural combination as well.

Alan France, who retails my lotion bars at his store El Rancho de Nambe, says they have helped his partner with psoriasis:

"We're using less of his expensive medications because your lotion bar is helping so much."

See our blog post from 9/4/10, "Lotion Bar helps Girl with Eczema."

Here are some of the findings from this research as reported by the Bastyr Center for Natural Health:

"The participants with eczema who had had no prior treatment applied a mixture of honey, olive oil, and beeswax to the affected areas on one half of the body, and Vaseline to the affected areas on the other side of the body three times per day for two weeks. Those with eczema who were using corticosteroids prior to the study applied a combination of a steroid cream and the honey mixture to one side of the body, and a Vaseline and steroid cream mixture to the other side of the body three times per day for two weeks. . . Among the participants with eczema who had used no prior treatment, 80% had a significant improvement using the honey mixture; the amounts of itching, scaling, and oozing had the most profound improvements. Among those participants with eczema who had used a steroid cream prior to the study, a combination of the honey mixture and steroid cream led to substantial reductions in steroid doses in almost half of the participants. The honey mixture resulted in a marked improvement in 63% of the participants with psoriasis who had had no prior treatment.

Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help to decrease pain and the appearance of scars, and that lead to faster wound healing. Olive oil also has antibacterial properties and the ability to inhibit substances that lead to inflammation. Olive oil and honey both contain flavonoids that help protect cells and inhibit histamine (a substance involved in allergic reactions). Beeswax has anti-inflammatory properties and is often included in formulas to treat burns and other skin conditions."

No wonder honey, beeswax and olive oil make such yummy and soothing skin care products!