Aromatherapy/Botanicals Tip of the Week

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Most of us at one point or another have endured those pesky (and embarrassing!) flakes known as dandruff. Every year, I notice that my scalp tends to become drier during the winter months, most likely because of the dry environment that's created from keeping the heat on all the time.

Rather than turning to chemical-laden dandruff shampoos, I set out to find a natural remedy and the first thing I came across was tea tree oil. Dandruff is typically caused by a fungus on the scalp and tea tree oil possesses strong anti-fungal and antiseptic properties, making it a great remedy for a flaky scalp. There are plenty of dandruff shampoos on the market that include tea tree oil, but if going this route, be sure to look for a natural variety such as Nature's Gate. My boyfriend and I have been using Nature's Gate Tea Tree Calming Shampoo for about a week now and haven't noticed any more dryness!

You can also make your own tea tree shampoo by simply adding 10 drops of tea tree oil to 8 ounces of your favorite shampoo (again, preferably a variety that uses natural ingredients).

Another remedy that I came across are soybeans. Soybeans are high in B vitamins (such as biotin) and zinc, so they're great for helping improve the health of your hair and skin, which in turn helps remedy dandruff! According to The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke PhD, eating just one handful of soybeans each day should be enough to help keep your scalp healthy and flake-free. Plus, they're really tasty!

Note: If you want to use tea tree oil without putting it in your shampoo, be sure to dilute it with a base oil (such as jojoba oil or sweet almond oil) before applying to your scalp.