Wellness Essentials

Essential Oils for Emotional Health

2011-10-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

In today’s harried world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and stressed. Unfortunately, emotional well-being is directly tied to physical well-being, and stress is one of the major contributors to illness and disease. The natural properties found in essential oils produce an uplifting and soothing effect on emotions and the mind. They have amazing properties that can have an effect on emotional wellness by being calming and uplifting for depression, anxiety, fatigue or stress. Essential oils reduce stress by calming the nervous system. They have the power to reach deep into the psyche and to uplift the spirit and relax the mind because they affect the limbic system of the brain.

There are a few different ways that essential oils can be used to help bring emotional balance. They can be diffused into the air, applied to targeted areas of the body, added to the bath, or used in combination with massage therapy. While essential oils should not be considered a cure for any kind of emotional distress, they most definitely can assist in emotional well-being.

Here are a few essential oils that can help bring emotional balance and relief of distress.

Wild Orange – Can help instill a positive attitude, helps to dispel moodiness and irritability, provides emotional balance, eases tension and frustration, and is great for the “winter blues”.

Bergamot – Can be relaxing, yet also uplifting. Relieves nervous depression and anxiety. Encourages release of pent up feelings, which if not released can lead to emotional distress such as insomnia, anxiety, mood swings and depression. Bergamot helps to impart feelings of relaxation and letting go. It can also help with addictive behavior.

Chamomile – Can help relieve any kind of nervous stress; can help ease feelings of frustration and resentment. It’s warm fragrance can leave you with a sense of satisfaction.

Coriander – Can help give one a sense of peace and security. It can be both calming and uplifting. It works well to ease nervous depression caused by worry and overthinking.

Eucalyptus – Traditionally used for decongestion and breathing, this oil can also help to give a more positive outlook and revive the spirits. It can help give relief if you are feeling “boxed in” or constricted by your personal situation, and can help dispel the negative emotions connected to those situations.

Frankincense – It’s most important action is to help the nervous system. Because it has the ability to both relax and revitalize, it is excellent for treating nervous exhaustion and nervous tension. It is wonderful for treating depression because it can help in uplifting the mood. It can also help when there are feelings of distraction or overwhelming thoughts.

Ginger – Can relieve feelings of tension, frustration irritability and moodiness. It can help reduce appetite, especially helpful for “stress eaters” who eat as a means of dealing with difficult emotions.

Lavender – Helpful to calm and stabilize, and release pent up energy. Can also relieve feelings of hysteria and panic, and ease nervous tension. May also calm nervous anxiety that results in shyness or embarrassment. It is very calming and relaxing and excellent for inducing a restful night’s sleep.

Lemon – Calms, lightens mood, eases worry, and helps a mind bogged down with decisions, obstacles and burdens. May also encourage security and trust. As with other citrus oils, its crisp clean aroma is very uplifting.

Melissa – Helps with restlessness, nervous agitation and insomnia. It is especially important for depression and for those who don’t respond well to pressure. It is also a most effective oil for anxious depression.

Sandalwood – Very relaxing, and helps to calm the mind chatter that can most often cause insomnia. Provides relief from stress and depression, and helps to induce a restful night’s sleep.

The following oils are blends created by doTERRA that are very effective for emotional health. For more information or to order click HERE

Citrus Bliss – Elevates mood, and reduces stress with the powerful aromas of Wild Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Tangerine, Bergamot, Clementine and a hint of Vanilla. This one is “pure happiness in a bottle”!

Serenity – Calming blend designed to accentuate soothing properties creating a sense of well-being and improved health through natural reduction of stress and it’s related symptoms with a combination of Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood and Vanilla Bean. Excellent for inducing a restful night’s sleep.

Balance – For grounding, connectedness and well-being. It has a powerful calming action on the central nervous system with a blend of Spruce, Rosewood, Frankincense and Blue Tansy.

Elevation – Elevates mood and increases energy with a blend of Lavendin, Tangerine, Elemi, Lemon Myrtle, Melissa, Ylang Ylang, Osmanthus and Sandalwood. Great for depression, hopelessness, lack of energy, stress and jet lag.

Middle Age

2010-09-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

So, I believe I am now officially middle aged, and now I think I understand why they call it "middle age". It's not because you are in the middle of your life, it's because your life is now all about how to get rid of your middle. So very depressing.

Lucky for me there is a cable channel called Fit TV. I record a few of the programs and then exercise at my leisure (except I think my leisure is what got me into this problem in the first place) Here are a few of my favorites.

Namaste Yoga - a very gentle and dynamic style of "Hatha Vinyasa" Yoga. Each episode is a different unique flow sequence. I love it because it's a good workout, but it is also very grounding. When I just want something non- cardio, this is my first choice.

Total Body Sculpt with Gilad & Bodies in Motion with Gilad - Bodies In Motion is great for beginners. It is "old time" aerobics (filmed back in the 80's) but it's a nice gentle workout. Body Sculpt is a little updated and a great toning workout using weights. My kids always make fun of me when I'm "working out with Gilad"!

Core Fusion - this is an intense workout for your core muscles. A lot of the moves are done holding on to a chair with small isometric movements. I like that they stretch in between each series of exercises. You will most definitely feel this one the next day.

However, I have to admit, my most fun and intense workouts can not be found on Fit TV, they are on CD's. Yes, I have discovered ZUMBA, and I absolutely love it! It's a great workout, but because you are dancing, it doesn't even seem like a workout, it's just fun! I highly recommend it. You can also go to live Zumba classes at many gyms and dance studios in your area. I'm not quite brave enough to do that yet. It's one thing to dance around my family room shaking body parts that really should not be shook at my age, but it's quite another to do it in public.

So, if you are middle aged, or just worried about your middle, just get up off the couch and get moving. Start slow and work your way up to something a little more intense. It'll be good for you.

New Website

2010-08-13T00:33:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce the launch of my brand new website for essential oils!

It's called Oil Essentials and you can check it out here
http://www.oilessentials.org/

Essential Oil Training Seminar

2010-07-09T23:28:00.000-07:00

ROBERT TISSERAND

I'm so excited to announce a two day essential oil training seminar with Robert Tisserand, an internationally renowned and respected leader in the aromatherapy and massage industries. He will discuss the safety of essential oils and their many uses. This workshop is a MUST for professionals practicing in natural healing, essential oils education, Spa technicians and other medical fields.

WHEN:
August 27-28, 2010 8:00 am- 5:30 pm

WHERE:
Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center
7700 East McCormick Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

COSTS:
Pre -registration: June 21, 2010 - August 6, 2010 $295.00
Registration after August 6, 2010 and at the door $325.00

Go HERE to register or call (480) 381-2638

Hormones and Essential Oils Part 2

2010-05-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

Rebroadcast from Dr. David Hill Webinar 3/31/2010

Hormones & Essential Oils Part I

2010-05-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Rebroadcast from Dr. David Hill webinar 2/23/2010

And the Winner Is .. . . . . . . . .

2010-03-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

First off, can I just say how much I enjoyed this, because I really did! It was so fun to read all of your comments and visit your blogs and profiles and get to know you a little bit. I feel like I have a whole new group of friends, so thanks for taking the time to "stop by" and leave a comment. And thanks again to Mary for the awesome review at MyNew30.

I had my grandaughter help me pull a name out of the basket.So. . . . . . . congratulations to Elaine!!! Please e-mail me with your address so that I can get your oils in the mail to you.

Thanks to all of you who entered the drawing. The good news is, you can still get doTERRA's intro kit, just go here and then "go shopping"! There are three different ways to purchase products from doTERRA: retail, preferred customer, or wholesale. Feel free to contact me for more information. And definitely contact me if you are interested in setting up a wholesale membership, because for a limited time, I am able to rebate your membership fee with certain qualifications.

If you are interested in learning more about doTERRA, we have weekly webinars on wednesday evenings. This Wednesday's webinar will be hosted by Emily Wright, Vice President of leadership and one of our owners and founders. You'll love her, she's amazing!! You can register for the webinar here. If you can't make it to the webinar, you can watch a recorded one by going here.

You also might be interested in the webinar on March 31st with Dr. David Hill. He will be presenting the second part of a three part series on Essential Oils and Hormones. You can watch a recording of the first one by going here. You can register for part two here.

So, thanks again for playing. It was so much fun, I think I will do another one soon, so stay tuned! I hope you take the opportunity to try doTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils. I know you will love them as much as I do! If you haven't already, be sure to visit my "official" oil essentials blog.
Feel free to E-mail me, or call me if you want to talk oils.

Joni
wellnessessentials09@gmail.com
(480) 209-9639

And just exactly what are Essential Oils anyway?

2010-03-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

I realized that I have had several posts relating to essential oils, but I've never really explained what they are, or why you would want to use them. So, here's a little oil info for you.

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Even though they are oils, they are not oily. They are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. To get an idea of what an essential oil is, squeeze the peel of a ripe orange, that fragrant residue that's left on your hand is full of essential oils.

However, essential oils can do more than just smell good. A good, pure therapeutic grade essential oil can help with a myriad of health issues. You can use essential oils just like you would use Over the Counter medications, but without the nasty side effects.

Basically, there are three ways you can use essential oils. You can inhale or diffuse them, apply them topically, or take them internally (as long as they are high quality therapeutic grade oils).

For instance, Lavender oil is wonderful for relaxation, and great for cuts and burns. Peppermint works wonders in getting rid of headaches, helping with stomach upset, and is also great for burns. Lemon is purifying, and uplifting, and a little drop of Lemon in your water is a great way to help cleanse the liver of toxins. These are just a few of the many, many benfits of these three oils. That's the great thing about essential oils, each one can be used for so many different issues. You just need to experiment around a bit to find out which ones work best for your system.

If you would like to learn more about essential oils, and experience Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint for yourself, try doTERRA's Introduction to Essential Oils Kit. It comes with 5ml bottles of each of the three essential oils, and an introductory CD and booklet explaining the uses of each of the oils.

For more in-depth information on essential oils and how to use them go here
and to purchase essential oils, go here

Happy Oiling!!

Eat your Veggies!!

2010-02-27T12:58:00.000-08:00

I love most fruits and vegetables, but if you are like me, you probably never meet the daily requirement of ten, (yes ten) servings of fruits and vegetables. I love a good smoothie, so that's an easy way for me to incorporate fruits, but that's only one serving. I ususally try to add veggies to whatever I'm eating for dinner, but again, that's only one serving. So, exactly how do you meet that ten daily servings thing? I tried a greens drink once, and I just couldn't do it. It tasted like someone went out and mowed my yard, then pureed the clippings with a bit of water, yuck! Oh, and I was told that the reason I didn't like it was because my body needed it so much, which may or may not have been true, but it still didn't intice me to drink the stuff.

Then my massage therapist told me about this great greens drink called Greens First. I explained to her my aversion for greens drinks, but she promised me this one was different. Trust me, I was extremely skeptical, and I just knew it would be another alfalfa tasting drink, but I was pleasantly surprised. It didn't taste or smell anything like grass, it even had a minty flavor, and most importantly, it didn't trigger the gag reflex!

So, now I'm hooked. I really love what it does for me energy wise, and I even suspect it might be helping to make my stomach a bit flatter (never a bad thing). I'll admit I don't sip it slowly and savor the taste, I drink it fast, all at once, but it really isn't that bad. (Warning: it is kind of thick, and if you don't mix it thorougly you sometimes get chunks which is kind of not pleasant).

So, if you are looking for a "not bad" tasting greens drink, Greens First is it. I purchased mine from my naturopath's office, but you can get it online, so I'm including the link here.
Just one scoop mixed with 6 to 8 oz. of water will give you the equivalent of 10 plus servings of fruits and vegetables, and one jar has 30 scoops. Because of all the active ingredients you need to keep it refrigerated, so it's not very portable for trips, but that's the only negative I could find.

So try it, and let me know what you think. You might even be able to get your kids to drink it.

To Your Health!

Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Shingles

2010-01-08T13:15:00.001-08:00

Over the last week I've pretty much felt like that chicken, wishing someone might chop off my head. It seems I've learned all there is to know about Shingles. I've been to Urgent Care, the Optometrist, the Dermatologist, and of course the Internet. So. . . . thought I would share my new found knowledge of Shingles, then hopefully you won't have to learn about it the way I did, through personal experience. If you were hoping for pictures, sorry. I'm too vain for that, but you can go here to see what they look like on other people (and you may not want to do it right before or after you have eaten).

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful skin rash due to infection of the varicella-zoster virus which is the same virus that causes Chicken Pox. Once you have had Chicken Pox, you can't get them again; however, the virus hangs around in certain nerves in our body just waiting for an opportune time to have one last hurrah and reek a little havoc, and then it comes back as Shingles.

No one knows for sure what causes the virus to reactivate, but it most commonly occurs in adults over age 60 (not me) or those with weakened immune systems (not me either), but basically it can affect any age group and most often is brought on by stress(ok, maybe me. . . . can you say "The Holidays"?)

Shingles can be contagious through direct contact to those who have never had Chicken Pox, or the vaccine. Since they have not built up an immunity to it, they could contract a severe case of Chicken Pox.

Because Shingles is caused by a virus, there really isn't any medication you can take that will "cure" it, but it usually will subside on it's own in two to three weeks. Your doctor might prescribe Acyclovir, an antiviral medication which helps reduce pain and complications, and may shorten the duration of the infection. Most studies, however, indicate that it should be taken within the first 24 to 48 hours of noticing symptoms and preferably before any blistering occurs (who knew that itching, burning scalp I was experiencing during the week before Christmas was Shingles? And, I just thought the raised bumps on my forehead was the beginning of a huge underground zit, compliments of all the christmas chocolates I consumed). Sometimes coritcosteroids, which are strong anti-inflamatory drugs, might be prescribed to reduce swelling and pain, but there is a bit of controversy surrounding them as to whether or not the good they may do outweighs the bad.

Unlike Chicken Pox, Shingles only affects a certain area of the body, like the trunk, the chest, or one side of the face. They follow nerve paths. If the outbreaks appear on your face, there is danger of it getting into your eye and doing severe damage, so seek medical help as soon as you notice the first symptoms, especially if the blisters are on your nose. The other thing to watch out for are secondary infections due to a weakened immune system. (Mine manifested as conjunctivitis, and I had a swollen eye with huge undereye bags {insert bag lady jokes here})

One of the long term side effects that may occur from the Herpes Zoster virus is Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN). It is an intense, debilitating nerve pain that can stay around for months after the blisters are gone. (you know, that stinging burning feeling you get when you get a shot of Novacaine, only there isn't any of the numbing effect afterwards, which would really be useful when the "feels like someone is driving a nail through your head" part comes).The good news is that there has been a study showing the effectiveness of peppermint oil in treating PHN.

There are several other essential oils that can also help with the management of Shingles. I'm sure I would have had a much worse case if not for my oils. Because I originally thought I had a bit of acne, I immediately began putting Melaleuca (Tea Tree) oil on the blisters. Melaleuca is known for it's anti viral and anti-inflammatory properties, and with twelve times the antispetic power of phenol, it has some strong immune building properties as well. I believe this is one of the reasons I had so few blisters. (and fyi: Dr. Oz just mentioned on his TV show the other day that no medicine cabinet should be without a bottle of Tea Tree oil) I also relied quite heavily on other essential oils as well -- Bergamot (anti-inflamatory), Lavender (anti-inflammatory, regenerative), Helichrysum (antiviral), Lemon (antiviral), and Roman Chamomile (anti-inflammatory). And at night, to help me sleep and relax, there is nothing like Sandalwood oil for it's calming and sedative properties.

So, the moral to the story is - - - - - try to stay calm, and boost your immune system with a good nutritional supplement so that the Herpes Zoster Virus doesn't throw a party with your nerves. But if it does, know that there are essential oils that can help you through it, and most importantly see a Doctor to make sure there aren't any complications.

Essential Skin Care now available!

2009-12-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

INTRODUCING doTERRA® ESSENTIAL SKIN CARE

dōTERRA ESSENTIAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS ARE A FAMILY OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE THE NATURAL POWER OF ESSENTIAL OILS IN HELPING TO KEEP YOUR SKIN FEELING AND LOOKING YOUNG, HEALTHY, AND GORGEOUS. IN ADDITION TO A CAREFUL SELECTION OF CPTG CERTIFIED PURE THERAPEUTIC GRADE® ESSENTIAL OILS ADDED IN GENEROUS PROPORTION TO EACH PRODUCT, THE ESSENTIAL SKIN CARE LINE INCLUDES CUTTINGEDGE TECHNOLOGIES WHICH COMPLEMENT THE ESSENTIAL OILS IN TARGETING THE VISIBLE SIGNS OF BOTH CELLULAR AND MECHANICAL AGING.

FOR PRODUCT INFORMATION GO HERE

TO PURCHASE GO HERE

doTERRA Essential Oils

2009-11-30T22:15:00.000-08:00

More Hints for Preventing Swine Flu

2009-10-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently forwarded these suggestions for helping to prevent Swine Flu. With the exception of frequent handwashing, these were ideas I had not heard of before, so thought I would pass them on.

Tamiflu (the medicine given after the flu is diagnosed) does not kill H1N1 but prevents it from further proliferation until the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not to come in contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions taken. Contact with H1N1 is not as much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms, and development of secondary infections, there are some very simple measues that can be followed:

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of your face.

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population. You can buy a Neti pot at Walgreens for about $10.00 and they are easy to use.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc/bioflavonoids to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. It washes off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

These are all simple ideas that most of us can incorporate into our daily routines. I figure "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

Probiotics

2009-06-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a lot of interest lately in Probiotics, both from a public and scientific standpoint. There has been a lot of research on whether or not probiotics taken as foods or supplements can help prevent illness. So just what are Probiotics and what are the health benefits of using a Probiotic?

Your body contains billions of bacteria and other microorganisms. The term "probiotics" refers to foods or dietary supplements that contain live, active bacteria that are similar to those normally found in your body. Sometimes they are called "friendly" or "good" bacteria because they help combat the "bad" bacteria in the intestine. Although you don't need probiotics to be healthy, they may help promote digestive health and strengthen the body's natural defense system in the same way that the bacteria already existing in your body does.

A healthy intestinal tract is extremely important for good digestive function and immune protection. There are a lot of ways that we can upset or even kill the microflora in our intestine. Physical exertion, exposure to harmful microorganisms, toxins in our diet, stress, and antibiotic use can all wreak havoc with the colonization and function of the "good" bacteria we need in our gut. People who eat a lot of animal fats and proteins, and not enough fiber can have problems as well. There also have been studies that show a steady decline in friendly intestinal flora in both men and women as they age.

When there is not enough of the "good" bacteria in our intestinal tract our immune system can't function properly. Some other negative effects are intestinal deterioration, constipation, diarrhea, and even bone strength reduction.

The good news is that taking probiotics either in supplements or in foods can help treat or prevent illness. Use of probiotics help support healthy digestive functions and immunities while creating an unfavorable environment for unhealthy bacteria, yeast and other harmful microorganisms.

Some other benefits include:

Enhanced immune system response

Helps to prevent eczema in youth

Therapeutic for viral respiratory tract infections by enhancing the overall immune system

Increased ability to digest food

Reduces negative affects of taking many types of antibiotics

Reduces incidence of yeast infection, vaginitis and candidiasis

Increases ability to assimilate the nutrients from food

Reduces lactose intolerance

Acts as a treatment for halitosis (bad breath)

Promotes anti-tumor and anti-cancer activity in the body

Alleviates many common digestive disorders such as constipation, diarrhea and IBS

Increases ability to absorb calcium

Increases ability to synthesize vitamin B

In short, probiotics are a valuable part of a healthy diet. The use of probiotics for overall health was the subject of a small study done in Sweden in 2005 which found that a group of employees who were given probiotics missed less work due to respiratory or gastrointestinal illness than did employees who were not given the probiotic. Also, with the emergence of new public health risks like Swine Flu, the ability of probiotic bacteria to support the immune system could be important to people with compromised immune function or the elderly.

Swine Flu

2009-04-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, all of the news about the Swine Flu can be scary and confusing, especially since it is now officially in Arizona. However, I don't think there is cause for panic. In today's Arizona Republic it was pointed out that "the disease appears to be producing mild symptoms in patients outside Mexico and that seasonal flu has hospitalized, or contributed to the deaths of, far more people: Tens of thousands a year compared with the fewer than 100 Americans infected and the five hospitalized so far from swine flu". Swine flu is treatable and absolutely survivable! I am not trying to down play the seriousness of it, I just think we need to keep things in perspective. I also read a really good quote today:

"In times like these, it's helpful to remember that there have always been times like these." Paul Harvey

Still, it can't hurt to be prepared. The following information is a modified version of a blog post by Rob James, a friend of mine.

Here are some basic ideas for prevention:

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!! The minute you come in to your house, go straight to the sink and wash your hands with soap and warm water. I have learned from volunteering in the NICU to sing the Star Spangled Banner while washing my hands, then I know I have washed them for a long enough period of time.

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Do it the way they teach in Elementary School, use the crook of your elbow instead of your hands. Better yet, use a tissue and throw it away immediately in a waste basket.

Obviously, avoid contact with those that are sick.

There are Essential Oils* that can be diffused in the air to eliminate air born pathogens, and you can use essential oils diluted in water in a spray bottle to clean around your home.

Most importantly, make your home a happy place, free from stress. A haven with kind words and positive thoughts. Make it a place of safety and refuge. As storms rage on, have your home be a house of prayer, gratitude and love.

Be aware of and recognize symptoms if they strike you or a family member, and see a professional immediately. Swine flu symptoms are similar to regular flu: fever, body aches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of appetite.

You can also use Essential Oils* to help with symptoms and germ fighting. Essential oils have the ability to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. They get down into the cellular level and make things right. Essential Oils are proven natural combatants to boost the immune system and protect us from and combat against flu strains including the swine flu.

*Recommended Essential Oils:
Oregano, Cinnamon, Myrrh, Basil, Clove, Lemon Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Cypress, Marjoram.
Breathe - a proprietary blend of Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemon and Ravensara to alleviate respiratory stress. Also promotes elimination of bacteria and viruses.
On Guard - a proprietary blend of Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary for eliminating unwanted bacteria, viruses and mold. Also helps to boost immune system.

The Benefits of a Facial

2009-03-23T23:13:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went and had a facial. I had not had one for almost a year. I forgot how relaxing they can be, not to mention how great my skin looked and felt afterward.

I tend to feel a bit guilty when getting a facial, after all it seems rather self-indulgent and somewhat of a luxury, but did you know that aside from the physical benefits, facials can have mental and emotional benefits as well?

Let's start with the physical benefits first. Something as easy as a regular facial once a month can provide numerous health benefits including improved texture and tone, increased cell turnover, stimulation of red blood cells, and an increase in the production of collagen (which makes the skin stronger and less prone to wrinkles). Did you know that facial massage can also calm the nervous system; diminish tension headaches; assist in reducing sinus congestion; accelerate the lymphatic flow; and nourish, hydrate, and detoxify the skin?

And what about mental benefits? A facial massage can enhance the capacity for calm thinking; assist in mental relaxation; redirect the focus of attention from stress and worry to relaxation, rejuvenation, and refreshment. Excess cortisol created by stress harms collagen and elastin productions, thus making stress one of the major causes of premature aging.

Most importantly, what are the emotional benefits of having a facial? A facial massage can create a feeling of well-being, reduce levels of anxiety, restore energy by stimulating blood flow, increase awareness of the mind-body connection, and satisfy the need for caring and nurturing touch. It can also calm emotional activity and contribute to a feeling of relaxation.

So even though a facial might seem like an unnecessary luxury, or pure selfishness, think of all the health benefits you will be getting by indulging in one every once in a while. Nurturing yourself will help you to relax and take a metaphorical "deep breath" so that you can then be a better nurturer to those around you.

I've had facials from a variety of different Aestheticians, but the facial I had a few weeks ago, was by far the best, most relaxing facial I have ever had, and the price was extremely reasonable. Michelle's office is located in Tempe. You can call her directly at (480) 200-8101, I highly recommend her for an amazing Facial.

So treat yourself to just a little pampering and nurturing, you deserve it!