Stephanie Tourles was interviewed for part of a natural mosquito repellent article that just came out in Eating Well magazine, August 20, 2020 The article promotes Naturally Bug-Free. Here is an excerpt from the article below. To read the article in it's entirety, click here. ,http://www.eatingwell.com/article/7834918/natural-mosquito-products-that-actually-work/ These Natural Sprays, Oils and Plants *Actually* Help Repel Mosquitoes Plus, the best tips and tricks to keep skeeters away naturally. Veronica Meewes There are certainly many natural bug sprays on the market, all made with a variety ..read more

Native to Europe and Asia, comfrey, often called the “miracle plant,” is a rather attractive perennial herb with hairy or prickly stems and lance-shaped leaves. Comfrey’s small bell-shaped flowers grow in various colors, typically cream, pinkish, or purplish (depending on the specific variety of the plant), and the plant has dark-hued roots that extend quite deep into the ground.  Comfrey grows to approximately 3 feet tall. Its first reported medicinal use dates back to approximately 400 BCE. Latin in origin, the word comfrey means “to grow together,” leaving little speculation as to why ..read more

All-natural body scrubs keep skin feeling smooth and supple in summer. Make your own with these recipes from skin care specialist Stephanie Tourles. In my work as a certified foot and hand reflexologist and licensed esthetician, my clients often ask me about what they can do to improve the texture of their skin. They wonder in particular about the skin on their arms, legs, hands, and feet, which tends to get dry, flaky, ashy, and scaly.  These conditions are neither comfortable nor attractive in any season, but now that summer’s here and more skin is on display, everyone wants to look the ..read more

Mother Earth Living | Stephanie Tourles| 5/4/2020 Myrrh—an aromatic, rich, precious resin—was widely used in ancient times throughout the Middle East, but especially in Egypt, for incense, perfumery, medicine, and as a preservation ingredient in the embalming process.  It was particularly prized as a remedial aid for infections of the respiratory tract, mouth, and skin and as a digestive stimulant.  Myrrh was also one of the three gifts said to have been brought by the three wise men to the baby Jesus to support a state of grace and preserve divine essence.  The name "myrrh" der ..read more

written for Mother Earth Living, Reader Contribution By Stephanie Tourles | 4/2/2020 2:58:00 PM In these uber-chaotic times, when stressors of economic uncertainty, food insecurity, social distancing, the expanding global pandemic, and media bombardment of incessant doom & gloom abound, our immune system is being challenged. Why?  When we’re stressed, the immune system’s ability to fight off foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and cancer cells is reduced.  Our immunity shields are lowered thus we’re more susceptible to serious illnesses.  We’re often in a ..read more

Keep your furry companions pest-free with these natural alternatives to chemical flea and tick treatments. As an herbalist, I often hear from folks who are looking for safe, effective alternatives to the standard chemical arsenal available to fend off insects and pests on the body and in the home. I’ve made my own herb-based products for years, because I react poorly to a number of common pesticides and insecticides. My natural formulas keep my home relatively bug-free, plus they smell pleasant and keep my skin and respiratory tract happy. As for our pets, they don’t like being pestered by pe ..read more

written for mother earth living, 1/30/2020 2:25:00 PM This highly aromatic plant, long adored for the delicious complexity of its bouquet, has been much used by the perfume industry for hundreds of years.  Seventeenth-century Europeans loved it so much that they developed hundreds of hybrids.  Geranium leaves make a soothing rose-flavored tea and are prized for their use in making a fragrant body wash, hydrosol, natural deodorant, and effective insect repellent.  They can also be used to promote healing for a broad range of conditions, from dysentery and cholera to hemorrhoids a ..read more

Find salvation for dehydrated, lackluster winter skin with a rich, restorative, make-at-home facial mask that calls for just two ingredients. Keeping your skin healthy and happy during the winter season is no easy task. Indoor heat from any source —  forced hot air, radiators, wood stoves, fireplaces, or space heaters — plus exposure to outdoor cold and wind can literally suck the life out of your skin, leaving it both dehydrated (moisture-starved) and dry (lacking natural oil). Skin in winter, especially the skin on your face, is often chapped, itchy, peeling, irritated, and lackluster ..read more

Article for Mother Earth News I refer to pine trees as “feel-good trees” because they offer so many benefits.  Many of the more than 100 species of pines have been used medicinally throughout the world by cultures ranging from the Greeks, Egyptians, and Arabians to the Native Americans, and Scandinavians.  The needles have been burned to clear away respiratory infections and insects and stuffed into mattresses to repel lice and fleas and fend off rheumatism.  The twigs were mixed with cedar and juniper for use as a purification incense.   The sticky pitch or resin that ofte ..read more

for Mother Earth News Folks, it doesn’t have to be summertime for you to experience dog-tired, hot, sweaty feet. Just ask anyone who routinely spends a lot of time on their feet . . . landscapers, brick masons, carpenters, massage therapists, sales clerks, waiters, parents of young children, runners, school teachers, hair stylists, exercise instructors, nurses, etc. Their poor tootsies take a beating all year long! Your feet are your foundation – ever think about that? They literally connect you with the earth, stabilize your being, take you from point A to point B, and enable you to jump, ru ..read more