Much ado about balms

If only the technology science fiction writers wrote so blithely about in the ‘40s and ‘50s were here, life would be so much easier. Advanced heavy duty machinery could do all our grunt work, while smart appliances could make housework a snap. Think instant food cookers – from frozen chicken to roasted chicken rubbed with lemon and rosemary with a side of potatoes in less than 30 seconds – and fashion-friendly washers and dryers that know instantly how to clean a cashmere sweater dress and a heavily-embellished linen blouse. Then robots, created simply to follow our bidding, would do the rest: providing relaxing massages after a day spent spoonfeeding the boss, mixing the perfect martini and commiserating on a hard day devoted to finding the perfect swimsuit.

Alas, those days aren’t upon us, so, for now, most of us will have to do with Badger Balms to help cope with the stress that comes with dealing with the bureaucracy and hassle of the daily grind. For those unaware of the green-thinking brand’s earth-friendly philosophy, the Badger company made its name with its first product, the Healing Balm, a potent potion whipped up by the company’s owner, who was a carpenter at the time, to heal his chapped, cracked fingers. A portion of the ingredients consisted of extra virgin olive oil, something the Badger company considers remarkable in its own right. "When you imagine some ancient Mediterranean goddess lounging by her baths and anointing herself with precious oils," writes Badger Bill in his opening remarks on the Badger website, "extra virgin olive oil was ‘the balm.’"

All the ingredients of any product by the brand are often plants and herbs that ancient medicine has celebrated as natural remedies. Today, the brand boasts that all their ingredients are 100 percent natural and more than 70 percent of these ingredients are organic. It’s tough arguing with numbers like that, particularly when it’s backed up by the number seven: which is the percentage that the company donates of their pre-tax profits to non-profit organizations which focus on the welfare of children, including environmental education.

Three Makes One Mother Of A Trio

These days, the helpful people over at Badger want to make life easier for hardworking people like yourself. They’ve put together a Badger gift box, filled with three Badger essentials: Sore Muscle Rub, Healing Balm and Sleep Balm. All three work well individual of each other. In fact many people leave these recyclable Badger tins in different parts of the home and office for easy access. The Sleep Balm is usually found on the nightstand or dresser closest to the bed, the sore muscle rub in the bathroom or in the office (best to apply it before that long walk home) and some like to slip the Healing Balm in their purse or pant pocket before heading out into the sun.

And There’s The Rub

For those who dislike the intense heat or excessive cooling effect of medicated rubs, the Sore Muscle Rub has just the right amount of soothing warmth to alleviate muscle and joint stiffness. With some lemon, ginger and rosemary extract for fragrance, to inspire feelings of confidence and wellness, the rub utilizes cayenne pepper extract to reduce inflammation and block pain. Ginger, another favorite in the ancient medicine cabinet, has been known to treat muscle soreness. Rose Hip and Sea Buckthorn Berry extracts work in tandem with the ginger and cayenne to soothe skin, leaving your joints feeling a heck of a lot better. Your Badger friends suggest applying the rub prior to workouts to keep muscles and joints warm and after workouts to reduce soreness. Working girls will find that rubbing this potion onto ankles after a hard day’s work spent in heels is particularly relaxing and offers gentle warmth exactly where it’s needed.

The Winter’s Tale

Christened the Healing Balm, this little rub has a lot to answer to. After all, it is the first in a line of rubs that made the Badger company a name to watch out for in the beauty and wellness category. And as the first product, this makes it Papa Badger to all the little Badgers out there.

According to Badger Bill, "Badger Healing Balm has been to the South Pole on the hands and feet of explorers on skis; it has soothed the fingers of trapeze artists and rock climbers; it has been a staple for river rafters, dogsledders and weight lifters for years."

Yes, this fierce little creature has a lot to live up to. But it does so with aplomb. Though many urban workers will look at this tin, emblazoned on the side with a proud "This stuff works," and raise an eyebrow or two – particularly if these people aren’t dogsledders or weightlifters or have no plans of heading to the South Pole anytime soon (although if this humid weather continues, who knows?) – the Healing Balm has incredible uses. For one, when tested by this writer on her incredibly rough and dry feet, the skin immediately absorbed the rub’s moisturizing oils and made feet – that for a while resembled those Malays from early AD found entombed in a pile of snow – look human again. "The key to this super soothing balm is in the ingredients," acknowledges Badger Bill. "Organic extra virgin olive oil and beeswax [are] natural healers for literally thousands of years. They are rich in natural ferments, enzymes, E vitamins and essential fatty acids. They leave your skin feeling silky smooth. Funny thing is this simple combination of oil and wax is gentle enough for problem skin yet tough and effective enough for rough weathered skin anywhere on the body.

Slap on some healing rub after a good shower and watch skin transform from rough and leathery to soft and young. With enough product, this could probably transform Donatella Versace into a baby-skinned woman again.

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream

Insomniacs out there might make a cynical shrug when they hear about the Sleep Balm. Particularly after Badger Bill explains that: "Our Sleep Balm doesn’t make you sleepy." Instead, with the lavender, which relaxes the mind; citrus-fragranced bergamot, which is cheering and uplifting; ginger, a warming herb that imparts a feeling of balance; and balsam fir, which has earthy notes reminiscent of a wooded forest; the Sleep Balm helps clear the mind so as to relax the user and lull them into a comfortable, restful sleep. Unlike the strong punch of sleeping pills, which literally knock people out, the Sleep Balm makes the process more organic: making sleep feel natural again. Apply it on lips, temples, pulse points on wrists and massage on neck and shoulders. With enough use, sleep will come easily and naturally.

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The Badger gift box and other Badger items are available at Rustan’s Essenses Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, Alabang Town Center, Gateway Araneta Center, Robinsons Place Manila and Ayala Center Cebu.