Immunity, and Health

Introducing the TheraVine™ CBD Bath and Body Oil and Chill-Breathe-Destress Massage

There is no denying that our bodies require a decent amount of sleep, good nutrition and a stress-free environment in order for us to function optimally. The reality however is that life’s pace continues to increase and our craving and yearning for time to chill, breathe and destress, is now bigger than ever hence the inspiration to make the latest trending ingredient, Cannabidiol, the hero component of our latest product and treatment innovation.

CBD, or cannabidiol, has previously gained popularity for its magnitude of health benefits, from pain alleviation and sleep improvement to helping with mental health conditions. The Cannabis Sativa Plant has two primary species, Hemp and Marijuana. Hemp Seed Oil is extracted from the seeds of the plant, which contains no Cannabidiol, but is loaded with healthy fats, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Cannabidiol is extracted from the leaves or flowers that promotes a general feeling of relaxation and is therefore a naturally occurring compound from the Cannabis Sativa Plant. Unlike THC (which is the major active ingredient in marijuana), CBD is the non-psychoactive portion of the plant and acts on specific glycine receptors that reduce inflammation. Due to this, anyone using CDB, will not experience feelings of euphoria as it contains less than 0.3% THC which only promotes a general feeling of wellbeing and relaxation. Although the exact way CBD affects our bodies is still not entirely known, scientists believe CBD encourages the body to produce more of its own endocannabinoids, which may help reduce anxiety, pain and inflammation.

Introducing the CBD Bath and Body Oil a pure CBD-infused oil blend formulated to promote relaxation and aid in skin nourishment whilst the refreshing cocktail of citrus essential oils provide for a pleasant sensory experience.

In order to diversify the product, we’ve chosen to use both CBD and Hemp Seed Oil for maximum benefits. Hemp Seed Oil contains the super Omega 3,6 and 9 and is known to be calming, soothing and provide antiinflammatory benefits while also being super hydrating and nourishing as it strengthens the skin barrier.

We proceeded to combine the benefits of CBD and paired it with the benefits of circulation boosting Sweet Orange, the sedative effect of Neroli and the moisturizing benefit of Mandarin to help to relax the body whether you choose to merely apply or submerge in it as part of a bath ritual. addition of Grapeseed Oil, Wheatgerm Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Tocopherol expertly helps improve the skin’s hydration, reduces irritation, promotes overall skin health and leaves the skin feeling soft to the touch.

Experience the 60min TheraVine™ Chill-BreatheDestress Massage at a spa.

Surrender to the calming benefits in the ultimate massage experience as you are transported to a state of pure relaxation. Expert therapeutic massage movements paired with the synergistic calming effect of CBD and a refreshing cocktail of citrus essential oils make this a skin nourishing, sensory experience 'out of this world'.

Note: This product and treatment is not suitable for pregnant women, clients suffering from Epilepsy or those with allergies to any ingredients listed.

TheraVine™ Where Science Meets Natural Beauty

For more information contact us. Tel: 021 886 6623, Email: info@theravine.co.za www.theravine.co.za

Topical Vitamin D: A Superhero Solution for Skin, Immunity, and Health

By Julie Keller Callaghan - Well Defined

While vitamin D has long been known as a powerful ingredient for health and wellbeing, the pandemic has brought it to the forefront due to research that has found a correlation between high levels of vitamin D and alower the riskof COVID-19 infection. But that’s just one aspect of its many benefits. When applied topically, vitamin D is also helpful in promoting overall health, and it’s known to be a potent ingredient for skin. For all of these reasons and more, it’s in the running for the year’s most coveted—and powerful— ingredient for health, wellbeing, and beauty. Vitamin D & Immunity

Interestingly, vitamin D acts less like a vitamin and more like a hormone in that it impacts almost any cell it comes in contact with, according toRalph Esposito, a naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and functional medicine practitioner specializing in integrative urology and endocrinology and medical advisor toAthletic Greens.“With such far-reaching effects and its ability to bind to specific vitamin D receptors (VDR) in the cell, it can influence the effectiveness of our macrophages, a type of immune white blood cell,” he explains. “In order for our macrophages to identify and engulf foreign pathogens, it must first recognize them, swallow them, and then release molecules to kill the foreigner—viruses, bacteria, etc. In order to do all of this, our immune cells absolutely need vitamin D to finish the job and be able to produce these bactericidal and antimicrobial molecules.Without vitamin D, our immune cells can’t build a robust response.”

Additionally, Esposito says vitamin D helps keep our immune cells from overreacting and allows them to react appropriately to certain foreigners. “When our body is prepped and ready to release these inflammatory molecules called cytokines to kill a foreigner, vitamin D helps them elicit an appropriate and non-excessive response,” he says. “In short, vitamin D prevents overreactions of our adaptive immune system.” made in the skin and utilized by the body for healthy functions, according to Celeste Hilling, founder and CEO ofSkin Authority and a longtime researcher on vitamin D and skincare. She also points out that D3 is more effective at raising blood levels of D in the body for sufficiency. Vitamin D & Skin

While the immunity boosting benefits of vitamin D are impressive, the skincare solutions it provides are equally inspiring. According to Hilling, it has a rather significant impact on skin health. It controls epidermal cell proliferation, which is essential for growth, healing, and barrier function. It creates a protein that protects against free-radical and oxidative damage as well as an antimicrobial protein that promoteswound healing and reduces inflammation. It also regulates the growth cycle of mature hairfollicles and strengthens keratin levels.

As for its role in beauty, Hilling says vitamin D is truly a game-changer. It keeps skin moist and glowing, reduces photo aging and sun damage, protects from environmental damage, and encourages growth of hair and nails.

Vitamin D Deficiency

With such blissful benefits, it’s unfortunate to note that most people (some reports claim up to 70% of the population) are deficient in vitamin D. Hilling says there are number of reasons for this, including hormonal decline, skin pigmentation, seasonality, and less outdoor exposure. “The skin needs D to make D,” she explains. “Vitamin D production initiates in the skin when the skin is exposed to UVB rays. The rays interact with the D present in the skin, causing a chemical reaction that produces vitamin D.Because D is more of a hormone than a vitamin, levels of D in our skin decrease as we age, making it harder to produce D naturally (even when exposed to the sun). As our population lives longer, this becomes more important to address.” skin acts like an SPF, slowing penetration of UVB into the skin and thus slowing vitamin D production. As such, Hispanic, African American, and Middle Eastern populations are among the most D deficient.

Another issue? Lack of sun, whether it is shorter exposure to daylight, either seasonally or people simply not spending much time outside. Reduced sun exposure and its natural ability to stimulate vitamin D production also contributes to the issue.

While some foods like mushrooms, salmon, sardines, liver, egg yolk, and cod liver oil are very rich in vitamin D, they are not so common in most people’s diets, yet another factor that leads to vitamin D deficiency, according to Esposito.

As for ingestible vitamin D? Hilling suggests what she calls a “nutrition sandwich” and encourages her clients eat vitamin D-rich foods, take a daily supplement with at least 600 IUs of vitamin D, and apply it topically for the most benefits. “Because less than 1 percent of what we ingest actually makes its way to the skin, you also want to apply it topically, in the same way that we now understand the power of applying vitamin C topically,” she says. “The real power of topical vitamin D is in its anti-inflammatory properties, which address many persistent skin conditions like acne,eczema, and rosacea.Because it also contains a microprotein that can neutralize pollution effects, it helps with contact dermatitis and skin allergies.Finally, it is key to building skin immunity to defend against environmental damage as it strengthens the skin barrier, repairs, and regenerates cell function.”

While incorporating vitamin D-infused products into a skincare routine seems like a no-brainer, Hilling does have a word of caution and a suggestion to do your research. “It is important to note that the type of D, the level of D, the formulation efficacy, and added carriers with D are critically important to creating a vitamin D product that can produce noticeable skin improvement,” she says. “Just adding D to a product does not mean it will produce results.”