Biodynamic farming was founded on the spiritual and practical principles of philosopher-scientist Rudolf Steiner. The Austrian devoted himself to non-physical, spiritual studies in an attempt to discover more natural, balanced ways for all living things to interact and thrive.

Biodynamic farming builds on the values and processes of organic farming. Like it's organic sister, biodynamic is all about chemical-free, earth friendly agriculture. A biodynamic farm does however place more emphasis on being self-sufficient. For example, a biodynamic farm would utilize its own compost and natural manure, as well as generate its own animal feed so that all inputs beyond the farm fence are as low as possible. To increase nutrient and mineral in the soil, compost added to it is treated with herb and quartz based preparations.

It is when enthusiasts start talking about lunar cycles and the astronomical calendar that many switch off to this method. But you do, think how the moon already plays such a huge role in our lives. From the twelve-month calendar to the female menstrual cycle, our lives are played out, in many respects by relating to the skies.

Since so many people are disconnected from their food these days (it's a long road from seed to mouth) restoring the nutritional and biological integrity of our food systems by following cycles of our natural environment makes sense. Using a sowing calendar and moon chart to assess the optimum times to sow and harvest provides a practical framework for a more diverse ecosystem and sustainable agricultural system.

A number of natural products are certified biodynamic by the Biodynamic Agricultural Association who owns and administers the Demeter Certified Trademark.

SLS - Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a surfactant or foaming agent.

It is what makes the bubbles in most commonly available shampoos, shower gels, bubbles baths and toothpaste. SLS is a cheap ingredient, but that does not mean that it is restricted to only lower end products. It is found in every price range from the cheapest to the most expensive.

SLS is probably the main ingredient that most consumers looking to change to more natural toiletries are seeking to avoid. It is commonly featured in the press among the most undesirable ingredients that have no place in cosmetics.

There is a huge ongoing debate about SLS, and this has led to a lot of misinformation and scare stories proliferating. One commonly held belief is that SLS is related to cancer.

As far as we are aware, there is currently no evidence to support that claim. It does no good to scare monger or perpetuate myths about ingredients, however, although it has not proven to be a cancer risk, SLS is considered to be very irritating to the skin in comparison with other surfactants that can be used.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate is also considered to be a penetration enhancer. According to the Environmental Working Group it "alter(s) skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin, increasing the amounts of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream". Obviously this is undesirable if other suspect ingredients such as parabens are also included in the formulation.

Many people now suffer from sensitive skin and eczema, and people regularly develop intolerances to products that they have used for many years.

There is no need to expose oneself to unnecessary risks and irritations. There are lots of companies working very hard to produce safe and effective cosmetic products without the use of SLS. The good news is it is possible to make and buy products that we commonly use without these ingredients.

Artificial fragrances have been linked to allergies, dermatitis, eczema and other problems, they can exacerbate asthmatic symptoms, may contain chemicals linked to cancer, damaging to the liver and kidneys and toxic to the nervous system.

Some facts about synthetic fragrance:
• There are no legal restrictions on the quantities or combinations of fragrance chemicals that may be used in cosmetics
• The ingredients of perfumes do not have to listed
• 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compound derived from petroleum
• Fragrance chemicals appear on the label as "parfum" in the EU or "fragrance" in the USA.
• A typical cosmetic can contain 50 - 100 fragrances, which the industry claims to be too many to be easily listed.
• Only a fraction of the thousands of chemicals used in fragrances have been safety tested by industry; some are capable of triggering breathing difficulties allergic reactions and multiple chemical sensitivities1

Phthalates (pronounced tha-lates) are a group of chemicals also often used to enhance fragrances. They have been linked to reproductive damage.

Research has also shown that perfume is the most common cause of contact allergy in men. It is believed to be due the fact that they shave, and damage the skin thus making it easier for the fragrance chemicals to be absorbed.

It would seem likely then that women shaving their legs and underarms, before applying products containing synthetic fragrance would have a similar risk of developing allergies.

"Fragrances are considered to be among the top five known allergens (deGroot and Frosch 1997, cited in Jansson and Loden 2001). In a subset of asthmatics, attacks are specifically triggered by, and only by, cosmetic fragrances. This indicates that fragrances may not only be a trigger but also a cause of asthma in some cases, although more research is needed on this subject (Norback et al. 1995; Milqvist et al. 1996). "Fragrance" mixtures, exempt from product labeling laws, can comprise hundreds of individual ingredients, and are common human allergens. A recent survey found that up to one of every 50 people suffers immune system damage from fragrance exposures."

When you take a closer look at your makeup bag, the ingredients to be precise, what do you see? Parabens, mineral oils and synthetic fragrances are some undesirable ingredients you may find, unless of course you have already made the switch to organic makeup.

When freshly applied, and as it wears off during the day lipstick is likely to be ingested by even the most careful women. Conventional lipstick contains coal-tar which has been identified by the World Health Organisation as carcinogenic. Other ingredients found in lipstick that may present a risk to your health are parabens, synthetic oils, petroleum-derived waxes and chemical preservatives, all of which you might want to avoid if you're not comfortable with polluting your body. Environmentally and health friendly lipsticks contain natural ingredients such as plant oils (ie jojoba) and vitamins (ie Vitamin E to keep lips moist).

Mascara and eyeliner can be risky as these are applied so close to the delicate skin on the edges of the eyelids. Conventional mascaras contain petrolatum, which can make lashes thinner over time. Also to prevent running laquer (found in paint) can cause lashes to fall out over time.

Eyes shadows and blushes are perhaps the safest conventional form of make-up as most are powder based so are not easily absorbed by the skin plus they're only used on a small area of the face. Still, the natural alternatives that use colours derived from natural mineral pigments are better.

Organic ranges include all the beautification makeup products available on conventional beauty counters including mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipstick, lipgloss, lip liner, foundation, concealer, powder and blusher.

Antioxidants are molecules that prevent or slow cell damage by neutralizing free radicals (damaging effect of oxygen on tissues) with positively charged atoms. The body manufactures antioxidants such as enzymes and uric acid, however the 50,000 or so antioxidants found in plants are also required through diet to help us lessen environmental or external stresses on our cells. Antioxidants are life promoters, working to slow the aging process. Some of their general beneficial qualities are to reduce inflammation and lessen joint and muscle pain. They can also prevent the oxidative damage to brain cells and have been studied as a beneficial treatment for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers. It is however still uncertain whether free radicals are the cause or result of such diseases.

As we get older our body's antioxidant defence mechanisms become less effective. Eating more foods rich in antioxidants ultimately makes for a more gracefully aging body. According to The Organic Centre for Education and Promotion organically grown plants have two to three times the level of antioxidants than conventionally grown non-organic plants. The reason being organic farming practices, such as covering crops and using compost instead of fertilizers and pesticides to promote growth, reduces stress on plants whilst growing.

The outer layer or skins of produce are the most antioxidant rich. Foods high in antioxidants include red kidney beans, wild blueberries, artichokes, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, pecans and russet potatoes.

Plants high in antioxidants are also used to preserve cosmetics, particularly for their anti-aging benefits.