Dr. Baar’s 10 Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Trouble falling asleep? Here are some lifestyle hints to help you get the shut-eye you need.
1. Maintain a regular sleep and wake schedule.
Getting to sleep at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every day helps provide the body and mind with a balanced routine. Once a routine is established, you will notice that you start to feel drowsy towards the end of the night and can fall asleep easier without tossing and turning. You may also discover that your body arises on its own around the same time in the mornings without the use of an alarm clock.
2. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine.
Find something that works for you. Some options could be to read a book, listen to soothing music, or take a bath.
3. Design your sleep environment to be cool, dark, quiet and comfortable.
A bedroom that is too hot or too cold can affect the quality of sleep. For most people, the optimal temperature to sleep is between 65°F and 72°F. Also, our natural melatonin production increases when in a dark environment. Melatonin is the body’s hormone that makes you drowsy and helps you drift off into sleep naturally.
4. Turn off Wireless Router and remove cell phones from your sleep environment.
Cell phones and Wi-Fi are constantly sending electromagnetic signals and some people may be sensitive to it. While research is ongoing, some studies suggest that sleeping near a phone or around Wi-Fi can interfere with the brainwave patterns and sleep.
5. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillow.
You should have enough room to stretch out and move around comfortably. Uncomfortable mattresses may lead to back or neck aches, which can disrupt your sleep in the middle of the night. You want to make sure that your pillow does not prop your head up too high or tilt it back too far. Also, if you tend to sleep on your side, it may be necessary to sleep with a pillow between your legs to help your hips stay aligned.
6. Finish eating 2-3 hours before bedtime.
Sitting upright or moving around helps our body digest meals. While you are lying down, the body works harder trying to digest the stomach’s contents which may cause restlessness.
7. Exercise regularly.
Regular exercise can uplift the mood and reduce anxiety. Over time, this promotes a calmer, more restorative night’s sleep. Exercise raises your core body temperature and your heartrate. It is best to finish a workout at least 3 hours before bed so your body can cool down and start to relax.
8. Avoid caffeine close to bedtime.
Caffeine is a stimulant which makes the mind more alert and signals the body to get up and going. Caffeine blocks sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and promotes adrenaline and cortisol production. A typical 8 oz. cup of coffee contains 95 mg of caffeine. Depending on how much is ingested, caffeine can stay in the system for 8-14 hours.
9. Keep a sleep diary.
Monitor foods you ate that day, any exercise you performed, any stressful events and finally how many hours you slept. This may help identify what may be affecting your sleep.
10. Add a natural supplement.
In times when sleep deprivation is taking a toll on your health, some supplements may offer the help needed to get a restful night’s sleep and get your body back on track for a normal sleep schedule.
Dozy-Doze™:
Dozy-Doze is a blend of herbal extracts formulated to help calm the mind and relax the body so you can drift-off naturally into a restful slumber. Dozy-Doze combines extracts of Valerian, Passionflower and Hops that have been traditionally used to promote a calm relaxed mind and support rejuvenating bedtime rest. GABA is a neurotransmitter normally produced in the brain and is known to ease nervous tension. Dozy-Doze combines select herbs to relax the nervous system to help you enjoy a tranquil night and wake up refreshed and energized in the morning.
Bruce Baar, MS, ND | © Baar Products, Inc., 2015
Dr. Baar’s Top 5 First Aid Ointments
When it comes to minor skin irritations it is important to first wash the area thoroughly to prevent any possible infection, then apply a topical first aid ointment as a barrier to keep the area protected from bacteria. Some ointments work by soothing irritated skin while others work to actually pull out a foreign object that may be beneath the surface of the skin, such as splinters. Here are my top 5 picks for topical first aid ointments:
1. Baar Balm 
Baar Balm is specially formulated with all natural ingredients that work together to soothe and protect the skin’s surface. It works great on minor cuts and abrasions, hives, dry, chapped skin, insect bites, minor burns and other skin irritations. Baar Balm is made with the healing power of Castor Oil with the addition of soothing Menthol, Eucalyptol, Pine Needle oil, Camphor, Clove oil and Methyl Salicylate in a natural base of Mutton Tallow and Beeswax.
2. Iodex® 
Iodex with 4.7% iodine, has been available since 1910 and has been a trusted part of the family home medicine chest since then. Iodex promotes healing painlessly through the slow release of iodine and does not cause any stinging or burning when applied. As long as this salve remains in contact with body tissues in minor cuts, wounds and abrasions, the iodine gradually separates from the molecule of the carrier and inhibits the growth and action of bacteria.
3. Atomidex® 
Atomidex® contains 2% Iodine, which acts as an antiseptic when applied to minor cuts, wounds and abrasions. Iodine has long been in use as an antibacterial agent and a skin disinfectant. Discovered in 1811, Iodine gained widespread popularity during the American Civil War, where it was used liberally to treat the wounds of soldiers.
4. Ichthammol
Ichthammol Ointment is an advanced drawing and anti-itch salve for external use. Recommended for application to plant irritations such as nettles or poison ivy, treating insect bites and stings from mosquitoes, spider and bees, and drawing splinters and slivers. Provides soothing relief for ingrown toenails and minor skin irritations. Edgar Cayce recommended this first aid ointment for skin tenderness or breaking of tissue, abrasions and as the “best application for bed sores.”
5. Cuticura Ointment
Cuticura Ointment is the original formula enriched with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. This world renowned ointment (since 1865) is helpful for temporary soothing relief of pain and itching associated with minor burns, sunburn, minor cuts, scrapes, insect bites and minor skin irritations.
Applying a first aid ointment as the initial line of defense may help to promote faster healing of a wound. While there are many first aid ointments and creams available today, it is important to choose one which covers all the bases and suits your needs. Have you tried and had great success with any of the above first aid ointments? Please share your healing experiences with us!
Bruce Baar, MS, ND | © Baar Products, Inc., 2017
10 Tips from Dr. Baar for Improving Regularity
If you are reading this article, you have probably experienced problems with regularity or constipation at some point in your life. Everyone’s body is different so if you have occasional irregularity and/or constipation, or are looking to improve your regularity, try following these 10 Natural Tips to get your body back on track.
1.Drink Enough Water During the Day: Much of the literature on the subject for improving regularity advises drinking 6-8 glasses of water per day. Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. Keep it replenished; your body is approximately 65% water.
2. Increase the Fiber Content of Your Meals: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables are high in fiber. Selecting fruits or a high fiber cereal for breakfast is great. Adding the roughage of a fresh salad for lunch also helps. Minimize junk food and refined starches.
3. Chew Your Food Completely: Your saliva has digestive enzymes and this will help you digest your food better and improve the regularity of your digestive system.
4. Take tiny sips of Olive Oil during the day: This is a very simple approach and Olive Oil produces a gentle effect to the body’s eliminations.
5. Castor Oil Packs over the abdomen: Apply a Castor Oil Pack and heating pad over the abdomen for about 1 hour. Even this external application of Castor oil works to stimulate the action of the colon and enhance the body’s lymphatic functions.
6. After Dinner Take A Walk: Exercise, especially walking, is great for stimulating the regularity of the digestive track and the lymphatic system.
7. Minimize Stress by a method that works best for you: Walking, meditation, deep breathing, reading and adequate sleep.
8. Know your prescription medication side effects: Many prescription medications list ‘May cause constipation’ as the number one side effect. If this is the case, check with your doctor as it may be necessary to take a digestive aid supplement to improve your regularity.
9. Supplement with Super Digestive Enzymes: Digestive enzymes can improve overall digestion and alleviate constipation. These targeted enzymes help breakdown food into small, absorbable molecules. Even with the healthiest diet, adequate fiber intake and sufficient water, the body can still require digestive help. Adding our digestive supplement, Super Digestive Enzymes, with a meal optimizes the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and proteins which in turn helps the body absorb the nutrients it needs to be vital and healthy.
10. Take a gentle laxative. For short-term use, a laxative may be required. Sulflax™, Castor Oil softgels, and Fletcher’s Castoria offer relief from the discomfort of constipation and improve your body’s regularity. Choose the one that is effective for you.
© Baar Products, Inc., 2015
6 Ways to Use Organic Olive Oil for Hair, Skin & Nails
You probably have Olive Oil in your kitchen, but do you have any in your bathroom cabinet? This versatile oil has been used for centuries not only for cooking, but also for personal care. Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, it provides intense nourishment for hair, skin, nails, lips and more. There are countless uses for Organic Olive Oil and more are being discovered every day.
Nourish your Skin with this Beneficial Oil
Organic Olive Oil provides your skin with the nutrients it craves. It has the exceptional ability to penetrate deeply, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth from head to toe. This moisture-trapping emollient envelops your skin forming a protective barrier against dirt and bacteria without clogging pores. It enhances skin elasticity, relieves swelling and restores and repairs damaged skin.
Massage: During massage, Organic Olive Oil absorbs quickly to ease muscle stiffness, relieve ligaments and tendon strain, renew dry chapped skin and stimulate muscular strength.
Soothing Bath: Mix a few drops of your favorite essential oil with several tablespoons of Organic Olive Oil and add to your bath water. Indulge yourself in an aromatic, revitalizing soak and emerge feeling renewed.
Exfoliator: Add a small amount of Sea Salt to Organic Olive oil to create a natural exfoliating scrub for your face or body. This mixture will remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling silky soft and smooth. The antioxidants in it work to calm the effects of acne, reduce redness and soothe minor skin irritations.
Revitalize your Locks with an Olive Oil Treatment
Applied to the hair, Organic Olive Oil hydrates and seals in moisture for shiny, strong, touchably soft locks. It may be used by itself as a treatment or mixed with other beneficial ingredients for intense conditioning.
Scalp and Hair Treatment: For shiny, softer hair, massage it into your scalp and hair and cover with a shower or swim cap for at least 30 minutes, then shampoo. It wraps your strands with delicate moisture to nourish dry, brittle hair that is prone to breakage.
Added ingredients: Add one egg or a few teaspoons of lemon juice to your warm Organic Olive Oil. Work this mixture into the scalp and hair for an extra conditioning boost. These mixtures help renew lifeless hair, leaving it soft and manageable.
Keep your Nails Beautifully Manicured
Nails and the skin around them can often become dry and brittle. Rather than using chemical laden lotions, rub some into your cuticles and nails and experience its moisturizing and skin repairing benefits.
Cuticle treatment: Rub it into your cuticles daily to prevent hang nails and cracking skin. For extreme dryness and cracking, soak the fingers in a bowl of warmed Olive Oil for 15-20 minutes. This allows the oil to penetrate deeply into the skin and nails, giving them new life.
Add this nurturing oil to your daily beauty routine and let the revitalization begin. Do you use it in a unique way? Please share with us!
© Baar Products, Inc., 2015
Discover the Age-Defying Benefits of Gold Cream
In ancient times, Gold was valued for its beautifying benefits and anti-aging properties. Cleopatra, a woman renowned for her astounding beauty, was known to apply masks made of Gold every night to maintain her youthful appearance and flawless complexion. In the early 1900’s, Edgar Cayce advised packing the sand (from Virginia Beach) about the body because of its Gold content. It was said to produce a stimulating effect to the body’s circulation.
Today, Gold is used in many cosmetics for its ability to relieve swelling, tone and tighten skin, restore elasticity and smooth wrinkles and fine lines. The antioxidant protection of Gold helps guard skin against environmental stressors which damage and age skin. Gold promotes cell revitalization, encouraging collagen and elastin renewal which keeps your skin looking young, radiant and smooth.
A Natural Skin Cream worth its Weight in Gold!
Gold Cream provides your skin with the age-defying benefits of Gold combined with an ultra-hydrating and nourishing blend of botanical extracts:
Jojoba Oil is abundant in vitamins and minerals and powerful anti-oxidants that drench the skin with nutrients to moisturize, soften, restore and renew.
Rose Hip Seed Oil is high in vitamin C, vitamin A and essential fatty acids. It soothes, hydrates and revitalizes dry, damaged skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Organic Almond Oil is nutrient-rich in vitamins A, D and E. It has a calming, soothing effect on the skin, is easily absorbed and will not clog pores.
Organic Olive Oil has been called nature’s liquid Gold. It is loaded with minerals, essential fatty acids and vitamin E that combine to ward off damaging free radicals. It absorbs quickly to moisturize and restore skin health without leaving a greasy film.
Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant which helps bolster the skin’s defenses. Its anti-inflammatory properties help protect, calm and hydrate sensitive skin.
and more!
Gold Cream is the perfect indulgence for your skin. This unique cream is truly worth its weight in Gold!
© Baar Products, Inc., 2015