The Aromatic Spa

I thought I'd post some favourite treatments etc.. from my extensive collection as a therapist.

Here first she bathes, and around her body pours,
Soft oils of fragrance and ambrosial showers. - The Iliad, Homer 8 BC

Nail Treat

Soak fingertips in warm water to soften cuticles. Gently remove excess cuticle with a cuticle stick. Dry and apply neat lavender
essential oil to each cuticle with a cotton bud. Depending how rough your cuticles and nails are, it wil take about eight weeks to start seeing results. However its worth the wait. If your nails are particularly damaged, it would be worthwhile doing this treatment daily.

This is also great for getting your toenails into shape for the summer sandal season!

Foot Treat

Soak feet in a warm foot bath to which you’ve added a few drops of peppermint essential oil. If feet and legs are particularly tired or swollen, use equal amounts roman chamomile and lavender instead of peppermint oil in the bath. Finish by patting dry and applying your favorite moisturizing lotion to feet and legs. Massage it in with gentle, upward motions. Try to get into the habit of working upwards when applying creams or lotions to the body. Working towards the heart encourages lymphatic
drainage and boosts circulation. Both of which are important to maintain healthy skin. Not to mention it feels great too!

Essential oils can offer therapeutic support when we’re craving some relief from yet another sunless day in an overheated office or house.

Basil, roman chamomile, clary sage, geranium, juniper, pine, marjoram and rosemary all work as neurotonics; soothing anxiety, irritability and mental fatigue. Use one to three drops of a single oil (or a combination of oils. Experiment!) on a burner and let it gently disperse the scent molecules into the air around you.

Ignore all distractions! Lock yourself in the bathroom or your bedroom is necessary, sit back, relax and enjoy. If you
wish, buy a small blank journal or notebook to record the oil and oil combinations you especially like. One less thing to remember, and the act of recording your findings, along with how the oils made you feel, can be therapeutic in itself. Makes sharing your experiences with a potential friend-in-need too!

Ali wrote:

I thought I'd post some favourite treatments etc.. from my extensive collection as a therapist.



Nail Treat

Soak fingertips in warm water to soften cuticles. Gently remove excess cuticle with a cuticle stick. Dry and apply neat lavender
essential oil to each cuticle with a cotton bud. Depending how rough your cuticles and nails are, it wil take about eight weeks to start seeing results. However its worth the wait. If your nails are particularly damaged, it would be worthwhile doing this treatment daily.

This is also great for getting your toenails into shape for the summer sandal season!

I grew up hearing that unflavored gelatin strengthens nails -- apparently, my maternal grandmother, who had weak nails, swore by it, and my mother used to use the same method. But I recently read (on WebMD, I think), that it's a complete myth. Is this so? I've found that recently my nails (both finernails and toenails) have become extremely weak and flaky (I think perhaps due to medications? It was never a problem for me before.) I haven't tried the gelatin method, but have tried a couple of creams -- Burt's Bees Lemon-Something cuticle balm -- a rather solid thing in a tin, but I gave up on it, because I found it quite waxy, and it beaded up quickly whever applied. I just acquired a tube of Bliss Manicure's Best Friend -- I like it much better, but I'm not sure it's making any difference -- at least not yet -- I haven't been using it long. any suggestions? (other than the lavendar oil -- and does that just tidy up nails, or help with overall strength?) And what about the gelatin? Fact or Fiction?

It could be the medications, hormonal changes, dietary changes. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals can weaken nails. Have you noticed a change in your skin or hair? If all three are affected, that could be a strong indication of a dietary deficiency.

Do you use a lot of nail polish and remover? Acrylic nails? Both can weaken the natural nail. Do you make a point of wearing rubber gloves when doing dishes or other household chores. Mind you, you say your toenails are affected too.

Funny you say you don't like Burts Bees lemon butter cuticle cream. I love the stuff! I have, without contest, the world's WORST cuticles. Its a perpetual battle to keep them from getting thick and dry.



There's no sure fire "cure", but the lavender oil treatment does work for some people.

Well, I'm badly manic-depressive, so I'm on a lot of strong medications. Further, about a year and a half ago, I was hospitalized with some Mystery Illness, which has yet to be diagnosed, and from which I never recovered (and, seems the ol' health has been failing rapidly as of late....which is why I'm usually in my jammies, bedridden.)

Recently, I have noticed a gradual change in my hair -- turning a bit coarser, and more brittle. (Wah. Icky.)

I've been careful with my diet, to try to keep my strengh up, and a little bit of weight on -- not terribly successful with either, though. The dr put me on extra vitamins -- B12, D4, and a strong multi. (I can't say I'm noticed any difference though.)

I haven't used nail polish in YEARS, and never, ever acrylics, and my skin has always been iritated so easily, I avoid strong cleaning products, like clorox, soft scrub, etc -- or in I must use them, rubber gloves, ALWAYS.

Perplexing, isn't it?

I used to like the Burt's Bees, but I think what started to cause difficulties with it is that quite often I have a problem with my hands perspiring dreadfully. (Again, a lifelong difficultly no doctor has even been able to remedy. I tell you, I've been falling apart at the seams since the day I was born!) Anyway, due to that affliction, the Burt's is too waxy, and just gets messy, and beads up instead of absorbing well.

I'll give the lavendar oil a shot, if the bliss stuff doesn't work out after a longer trial period.

I'm so pathetic -- an advertisement for The Walking Wounded!

Have your tried the Rosebud Salve?

It's been around forever (well, since 1892), and it's my favorite cuticle treatment, but it's also terrific for dry skin and slight wounds.

Inexpensive, too, and one tin lasts a long time.

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp92191_334918_sespider/rosebud_perfume_co_/smiths_rosebud_salve.htm

Oh, that sounds great! (And if it's been around that long, it's surely tried-and-true!) Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a try next time I do a drugstore.com shopping.

BK, you sound like one of my children! Both were born with a mixed bag of health issues that have seen us form close personal relationships with many a health specialist over the past two years. :-)

You mentioned the other day that you were heading off for an EEG - I hope it went OK and that you are well.

As for Rosebud Salve, I've only ever heard good things about it and it seems to be another of those "must try" products. I, as someone forced to live away from the hub of civilization for work purposes, must rely on Internet shopping, but I think this product sounds like it might be worth the delivery fee. I think I'll give it a go! My nails could certainly do with some care and attention!

Oh, the poor babies!

I blame my numerous and perpetual ailments on inheriting EVERY problematic gene which ever appeared on both sides of my family, going back god only knows how many generations, but being a preemie (by over 3 months = a lot of time in the ICU). I've heard the current medical thinking is that being premature doesn't effect one's health in the least, but I don't believe it.

I hear the results of the EEG next week. Most of it wasn't bad, but there were parts which I didn't react AT ALL well to...I had to stay in bed for the entire next day. Something tells me that the intention isn't to make one severely ill. On the other hand, then maybe the Dr. can say, "Oh, GOSH, well, clearly THIS is your problem, and we can fix it by doing x, y, and z!" Which would be so incredibly great, to finally have an explanation for at least some difficulties.

Oh, and along the lines of rosebud salve-esque items, I LOVE Burt's Bees Green Comfry Res-Q-Ointment for all sort of small injuries, blemishes, small patches of dry skin, etc.

Here's something else you might like, if you're not allergic to eggs...an egg yolk mask.

Here's what I do:

wash face gently
spread lightly beaten egg yolk over face

Allow it to dry, and rinse well with lots of plain water. You can follow it with a mild toner, and light moisturizer. All that vitamin A!

It's excellent for creating & maintaining clear skin. I use it 3 or 4 times a week if I need to clear up a problem. Once or twice a week is plenty for maintainance.

It doesn't get too drippy when applying?

Not very.

Just dab a small amount on your fingers and apply 'til it's gone; repeat.

I do tend to apply it in the altogether, or make sure I'm leaning over the sink, though, just in case.

Once it's on your face it isn't a problem.

Rather than being lured into parting with a increasingly larger chunk of change for skin care, simply find a good quality, reasonably priced brand and boost its effectiveness by adding 5-10 drops of essential oil to it. Use one or two oils per 30-50 ml pot of cream and mix well. You may also find you use less as the oils intensify the richness of the cream.

Good skin oils are geranium, rosemary, roman chamomile, lavender and palmarosa. At the moment, I'm using rosemary (decongests, calms and clarifies) and palmarosa (boosts tissue regeneration and destresses). The same oils can be added to your body lotion. Chose an unscented brand and increase the number of drops of EO according to the amount of lotion your mixing them with.

Adding the contents of a capsule or two of Vitamin E is also a great way to boost the effectiveness of your face and body creams. Keep in mind that products advertising essential oils and vitamins as part of the ingredients, often contain insufficient amounts to be truly effective. Yet you pay a premium price for it. Always check the ingredient listing. The farther down the list the special ingredient is, the less of it there is in the product.

Cheaper and much more effacious to simply do it yourself!