My pick of the week this week....

The hazelwood necklaces we have at Natural Urban Mamas are made from the branches of a hazelwood tree alternated with gemstone beads. No chemicals of any kind (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) are used to grow the hazelwood trees these necklaces are made from. (Often when wood comes from a plantation chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used.)  The necklaces are handmade - from the gathering of the wood to the stringing of the beads.  All of the metal used to fasten the clasp and the clasp itself is sterling-silver (a lead-free metal).

The life span of the necklace will depend on the level of acidity of the body. In general, a necklace will maintain its medicinal benefits for 6 months to 1 year. Higher acidity may mean a shorter lifespan of the necklace. Some indicators that a necklace is losing its effectiveness are: the ends of the wood beads will darken and/or symptoms return.

Keeping the hazelwood moist aids the body in absorbing the beneficial properties of the Hazelwood.  Though it is not recommended to wear the hazelwood in the pool, spa, or in other highly chlorinated water, it can be worn in the bath or shower.  Don't be alarmed if/when the bark comes off the hazelwood beads - the wood beads will change over time.

Safety considerations - These necklaces do contains small parts; Children should be supervised at all times while wearing them. The necklace should be removed when the child sleeps.

My daughter is getting her two year molars right now and has NOT been fun for anyone.  She has always worn an amber necklace and we use the now-recalled Hylands Teething Tablet's too (My choice-I feel that this is a safe product for her and it WORKS!).  She has been wearing one of the new hazelwood necklaces now for about three days and last night was the first night in over a week that she has had a decent sleep.  I have both her amber and the hazelwood necklaces on during the day and take the hazelwood one off at night (just because the beads on it are not knotted like the amber ones are).  

I have heard from quite a few people that hazelwood is also great for eczema.  We don't have that problem in our house, but I would love to know what your experience has been or if you have had success with using it for other ailments too.

You can find our selection of Hazelwood Necklaces here at Natural Urban Mamas. Have a great week everyone! Natasha~