Posts Tagged ‘aromatherapy’

Posted on August 26, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Breathe, Be and Believe: Empower Yourself with Essential Oils

Essential oils positively purify three critical areas of your physical well-being: lungs, body and mind.

The Aromatherapy Bible, by Gill Farrer-Halls, cites the following benefits in his info-packed, go-to guide for all things aromatherapeutic:

• Lungs: The cleansing breaths you take at your favorite spa put you instantly at ease: that’s essential oils at work. Essential oils replace waste products like carbon dioxide with oxygen and essential oil particles, truly clarifying every breath you take.

• Body:  Once soaked into skin, essential oil circulates around the bloodstream, traveling to different organs and body systems. Extra bonus: different essential oils have a therapeutic affinity for certain organs. Rose essential oil, for example, is known to have a regulating effect on the uterus.  Lavender, when taken internally as a tea, has been known to help upset stomach, gallbladder and liver problems

• Mind: Essential oils have powerful mental, emotional and psychological effects. Lavender alleviates anxiety, depression and nervousness – no chemicals, nothing synthetic. Try this holistic approach and watch your mood lift and your frazzled nerves unwind.

Put the power of essential oils to work for you – whether it’s organic lavender (as always, our vote!) or something else and add a true scent-sation to your personal care routine!

Posted on July 15, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

De-Stress with a Self Massage

We’d all love to dash over to the nearest deluxe spa for massage treatments a couple of times a week.

But who has the time – not to mention the cash flow – to do it as frequently as our levels of stress demand?

Hands On Control

Wiggle these treatments into your daily schedule – after you get home for work, or maybe on your lunch break in your office or cubicle.

Not only will these self-massages refresh and relax you, they’ll give you a jump start for what’s next.

Face It!

We think of stress as building up in shoulders, neck and back…but your face holds it own tension. Follow these steps to a simple facial massage:

1. Sweep your hands over your face and lightly tap your fingers against your skin.

2. Place an index finger on each side of the sinus cavity (the bridge of your nose) and gently sweep downward.

3. Take your index finger and middle finger on each hand and place them on your temples, gently rubbing them in small circles.

Optional: Use a droplet of Napa Valley Bath’s Organic Lavender Massage oil and tap into lavender’s calming effect.

Back Up

Don’t let the stress that builds up in your back lead to serious back injury down the road. Work it out now for a healthier back later.

1. Take a medium-sized ball and place it between your shoulders and a wall.

2. Bend your knees and slowly roll the ball up and down your back.

3. Feel the tension in your back dissipate.

Nectar for Your Neck

Anxiety and stress can cause muscle tension in your neck. Rolling your neck in a circle from time to time during the day is a simple and effective stretch. Try this quick neck massage too:

1. Use both of your thumbs and find the indentation where your neck meets your shoulders.

2. Gently press your thumbs into the indentation and rub slowly.

If time and location allow, light a soy burning candle and set the mood. Soy burns cleaner than traditional paraffin candles. We recommend our Organic Lavender Soy Massage candle for its glowing aromatherapy (and you can use the melted soy as a massage oil!).

Do you have a quick fix for stress relief? Let us know your favorite ways to de-stress right here!

Posted on July 10, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Rub a Dub Dub: The Benefits of Bath-Taking

I consider bathing the comfort food of cleanliness. A decadent soak in a warm bath spurs a host of beautiful – and very real – benefits…

• Water suspends your weight, enabling your muscles to relax as you take on a lighter sense of physical being
• Your blood pressure safely decreases in response to your blood vessels dilating from the warmth
• Sore joints – if you have them – feel more relaxed
• Tension just seems to melt away
• In cooler temps, a warm bath becomes a special way to warm both body and spirit

Ingredients in a glorious green bath include milk, salts and fragrant oils – forget about detergent-based bath foams. When it comes to bathing ingredients, less is definitely more.

Consider some of the ingredients we opt for in our bathing milks and teas:

• Organic mustard – an amazing detoxifier
• Organic buttermilk – high in fat, buttermilk is an amazing skin softener
• Dead sea salts – cleanses and detoxifies and an absorber of essential oils
• Organic lemon and rosemary essential oils – therapeutic aromatherapy
• Lavender – the ultimate cure for insomnia
• Chamomile – relaxes and uplifts spirits
• Calendula – a skin-soothing botanical

Is it any surprise why the Romans made bathing a vital social event of every day life?

One Stipulation for Soaking…

Make sure that the bath water is no hotter than 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celcius) and that you soak no longer than 20 minutes. Prolonged bathing – even with the most natural and luxurious bathing salts, teas and milk – can dry out the skin, so stay within these guidelines for maximum benefits.

Posted on June 24, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

J. No: Secret Chemicals & a DIY Summer Scent!

Floral. Exotic. Musky.

Britney. Halle. Even Hannah Montana!

Such is the language and star-power of the perfume industry.

In an explosive new study, the Environmental Working Group found that beyond the sex-appeal of many of these fragrances lives a dark, unhealthy truth: a cloud of toxicity is living in tandem with popular scents.

The study found an average of 14 chemicals in each of the 17 fragrance products assessed in total.

The Environmental Working Group dubs a majority of the chemicals ‘secret’ since they are undisclosed and not listed on the label. These chemicals have been associated with:

• Hormone disruption
• Allergic reactions
• Reproductive toxicity
• The propensity to bio-accumulate in humans, from fat tissue to breast milk

When it comes to fragrance, there is a surprising lack of red tape: a review of government records shows that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not assessed the vast majority of fragrance ingredients in personal care products for safety.

Worry-Free Fragrance

Fragrance is one of the top 8 ingredients you should avoid as seen in my Skin Detox 101 post. But what’s a girl or guy to do when a spritz of scent is a standard part of your daily personal care routine?

When shopping for that ‘just-right’ scent, look for ones that are made from organic essential oils, botanical essences and natural spices. Summer Rayne Oakes, a noted environmentalist and eco chic model, recommends  Tsi La fragrances, Aftelier, any scent by aromatherapist Valerie Bennis, and Patyka in her green personal care guide Style, Naturally. And if you’re a fan of a super light mist of scent, don’t forget versatile hydrosol!

Check out two DIY perfumes we’ve already posted.  In the spirit of summer, here’s a lovely scent that redefines fresh!

Summer Garden Splash

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh tomato leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh geranium leaves
• 1 teaspoon fresh mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
• 1 cup vodka or witch hazel
• 1 teaspoon glycerin (you can find this colorless liquid in small quantities in your pharmacy, or buy it buy the gallon online if you plan on making your own scents, soaps and more)

How to:

1. Place the leaves and the grated lemon rind in a glass jar with a lid.

2. Pour the vodka and glycerin over the leaves and rind.

3. Cover and let mixture sit in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks.

4. train the liquid through a coffee filter to remove the debris. Pour into a spray bottle.

Source: The Green Beauty Guide, Julie Gabriel

Posted on June 22, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Get Misty with Rose & Lavender

We’ve waxed poetic about organic lavender. We’ve hailed lavender hydrosol for its healing properties. And we’ve even extolled the virtues of lavender in food, both sweet and savory.

But once and a while, we recognize that other worthy floral blooms offer their own contribution to our bath and body routine.

A Rose By Any Other Name…

Like lavender, rose water – or rose hydrosol – soothes irritated skin. It is considered a mild, natural sedative that can act as an anti-depressant. And rose is used in treatments to ease everything from nervous tension to peptic ulcers to heart disease.

This Lavender-Rose Sweet Water Mist is a multi-tasker extraordinaire.  Mix up this DIY recipe and use it to…

• Repel moths and other insects before winter storage
• Promote rest and relaxation before bedtime when spritzed on your pillowcase
• Give your clothes a lovely lift when used as a mist before ironing (see you later spray starch!)
• Use your favorite lavender essential oil from Napa Valley Bath!

So without further ado, here is a great DIY recipe for yourself, or to make as a gift for a friend or loved one…

Lavender-Rose Sweet Water Mist

Ingredients:

- 4 ounces rose hydrosol (available at natural-foods stores)
- 1 ounce distilled water
- 1 tablespoon 150- to 190-proof alcohol, such as brandy, unflavored vodka, or grain alcohol
- 10 drops vegetable glycerin
- 45 drops lavender essential oil

How To:

In a small spray mister, combine rose hydrosol, water, alcohol, vegetable glycerin, and lavender essential oil. Cover and shake well to blend.

While you’re at it, try making Lavender Liquid Body Wash and Lavender Dishwashing Liquid, both of which call for organic lavender essential oil.

source:   WholeLiving.com

Posted on June 17, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Holding a Candle for Organic Lavender

When I first started blogging for Napa Valley Bath back in August 2009, it was all lavender, all the time.

Since, I’ve covered everything from DIY beautification to legislation to motivation.

As in all areas of life, it’s always important to revisit and refocus on what’s truly important. At Napa Valley Bath, lovely organic lavender wears that ‘important’ hat with both style and substance. Pure organic lavender beats at the heart of every Napa Valley Bath product, and deserves regular kudos and commendation.

So without further ado, here are some ‘best of’ highlights on what lavender has to offer all of us:

• Aromatherapy Initiator It was the amazing healing power of lavender that kick-started the concept of aromatherapy.  Thank you, lavender, for helping us destress, and for making our world smell better, from bath to boudoir.

• A is for Amazingly Clean Analgesic, antiviral, antiseptic and antibacterial…all properties that lavender touts as it’s own, making it great for an all-natural scrub down at home. Check out our DIY Lavender Dishwashing Liquid and redefine squeaky clean.

• What’s Cooking? Lavender delivers a sweet, floral flavor, with lemon and citrus notes. Due to its strong scent and flavor, a little goes a long way. Whether savory or sweet, lavender is a worthy seasoning that adds a unique character to every recipe.

• Freshen Air, Naturally. Conventional air fresheners emit heavily scented chemicals infused with synthetic perfumes.  Air fresheners culled from plant-based essential oils like lavender, are the only options for truly fresher indoor air. You can count on lavender to keep you in the clear from chemicals.

• The WD 40 of Personal Care! Lavender hydrosol – the less-concentrated sibling to lavender essential oil – is a light and lovely way to soothe sunburn, cool heat rash, heal irritation, cleanse cuts and scrapes, tone skin, soothe insect bites, reduce inflammation before and after hair removal and prevent ingrown hairs before shaving, cure insomnia (a spritz on your pillow) and more. For a little flower, lavender sure packs a powerful punch of benefits!

Yes I am holding a candle for lavender – an Organic Lavender Soy Massage Candle, of course! Sorry – couldn’t resist. Once the lavender love begins to flow, it sure is hard to stop!

Posted on June 15, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Baby Massage How-To, Plus DIY Massage Oil!

We love massages. Who doesn’t?

Even the ittiest bittiest among us adore this ultimate in spa treatments. After all, why should grown-ups have all the fun?

In fact, a baby massage is a greatly neglected nonmedical solution for many baby ailments. Various studies show that baby massage helps to:

• Ease colic
• Soothe stomach disorders
• Help sleep

Plus, it’s simply a lovely way to bond with your baby. Follow these 5 steps to a blissed out baby:

1. Timing is Everything: Choose a time when baby is relaxed – post bath but before feeding is a top option.
2. Location, Location, Location: Place baby on a clean receiving blanket. Play some soothing classical music or hum a special song reserved for massage time.
3. Light Touch: Close your eyes and press your eyelids: this is a great gauge for the proper massage pressure for baby. Unlike muscle-penetrating adult massages, baby massages shouldn’t go any deeper than the skin.
4. Flow from Head to Toe: Use fingertips to massage hands, feet, face. Use the palm of your hand to massage stomach area, legs and arms.  There’s really no right or wrong…the only requisite is to be gentle and loving!
5. Essential Oil No No: Don’t massage baby’s face with massage oil that contains essential oils.

This massage oil recipe can be used for baby massage as well as for use on your own dry areas.

Soothing Baby Massage Oil

Ingredients

• ½ cup organic olive oil, grape seed oil or any unscented organic plant oil
• ½ cup wheat germ oil

Optional

3 drops lavender essential oil (rose or calendula are also safe bets for baby)

How To

Combine all ingredients in a glass bottle with a flip-top cap. Shake well to allow oils to blend uniformly.

Via The Green Beauty Guide, by Julie Gabriel

Posted on May 1, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

5 Get Happy Tips

In the doldrums? Focus on these 5 actions and feel your mood improve!

1. Move & Groove

The power of movement cannot be under-rated. Whether you enjoy serious sweating or zenned-out yoga, you should get a minimum of 3 hours of moderate activity every week to enhance your mood. Ideally, it should be 5 days a week, for at least a half hour a day. Now get going!

2. Snooze or Lose

I know: easier said than done. But if you’re not getting enough zzzs, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Quality sleep enhances neurological function and keeps your mood blissfully even. Work your schedule to ensure you’re getting enough rest. A  mist of lavender organic hydrosol on your pillow will make dropping off that much more delightful. Try to mix in some down time activities too – even just for 15 minutes – like meditation, a light read, or simply chilling to music.

3. Glug!

Did you know that even a low level of dehydration can make your mood level sink? It’s true. So be sure to honor your bod with plenty of H2O. Forget plastic bottles: invest in a high quality, BPA-free reusable water bottle and be sure to honor the earth when you’re quaffing nature’s soft drink.

4. Feel the light

Serotonin – a neurotransmitter essential for relaxation, sleep and concentration levels – drops, even amongst the smiley set, when it’s cold and dark outside. Getting outside and feeling the sunshine can boost serotonin. And remember: you don’t have to be on a tropical island – even winter sun will do the trick!

5. Get Meaning

You don’t have to save the world: you just have to infuse a feeling of purpose into your days. Don’t overshoot – know your personality and work within your own fabulous framework: join a book club, take a class (even online!), volunteer. Choose something that will optimize your mood that makes sense for you’re individual personality.

Aromatherapy does wonders to transform  your bath and body routine into a divine mind mender; tap into the scent-ual treasures Napa Valley Bath has to offer and treat yourself right.

Posted on April 29, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

3 Ways to Avoid Toxic Air Fresheners

There are 3 steps to sidestepping toxic air fresheners:

1. Keep clean
2. Shop smarter
3. Do-it-yourself

Before we delve into each, here’s the stinky news on ‘conventional’ air fresheners.

Conventional air fresheners emit heavily scented chemicals infused with synthetic perfumes.  Pine, orange and lemon scents in particular are full of toxic chemicals known as VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds.  These proven toxins include:

• Benzene – causes cancer in animals and has been linked to leukemia
• Xylene – linked to nausea and liver and kidney damage
• Phenol – can cause kidney, respiratory, neurological and skin problems
• Naphthalene – linked to blood, kidney and liver problems
• Formaldehyde – linked to cancer, particularly in the nasal cavity

Irony alert!  This is the stuff that’s supposed to ‘freshen’ your air?

Go Green and Clean

If you’ve got a bad smell happening in your home, you’ve got to get at its root. Take the time to discover the origin of the bad smell, and use the internet to help you find all-natural cures. Using air fresheners – toxic or non-toxic – should not be the solution to a lingering odor problem that needs to be ousted, once and for all.

Many of you simply love the aromatherapeutic effects of an air freshener. Good for you – so do we! The trick is to buy green. Green air fresheners typically:

• Come in a recyclable and recycled pump sprayer – not an aerosol can
• Is plant-derived and biodegradable
• Derives its fragrance from natural – not synthetic – essential oils

Napa Valley Bath’s Lavender Hydrosol makes a soothing, toxin-free air freshener you can use every day! A naturally-scented soy or beeswax-based candle works wonders too!

Take Ultimate Control: Make Your Own

There’s always a DIY approach. You can create your own potpourri as follows:

• Choose a pretty vase, preferably antique – or a great flea market find

• Sprinkle your favorite dried flowers inside – of course we recommend lavender flowers!

• Add 5-6 drops of you favorite essential oil blend (experiment and find the scent you like best)

• Place in your bathroom, bedroom or any place you’d like a lift!

What are your all-natural tips for ’scent-ual’ healing at home? Let us know!

Posted on April 22, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Behold the Bath Bonanza!

You already know that here at Napa Valley Bath, we’re big fans of a scrumptious, sumptuous soak.

Why take a detergent-based bath when you can relax in toxin-free bliss? Alxyl-phenol ethoxylades – an ingredient commonly found in bubble bath – has been shown to reduce sperm count. And the infamous ‘fragrance’ you find on pretty much every conventional bar soap and liquid, shampoo, and bath product label?  That deceptively pleasant-sounding word can actually represent up to 4000 different kinds of chemicals, many of which are suspected or proven carcinogens.

There’s nothing relaxing about that.

Oil in the Family

Opt for all-natural bathing featuring pure vegetable oils and essential oils. The safest essential oils to use in your bath include:

• Lavender
• Sandalwood
• Chamomile
• Spruce
• Rose

Essential oils that contain more potential for irritation include citrus, jasmine, bergamot and sage, so steer clear of them when it comes to your bath. Avoid mineral oil in your bath too: it obstructs your skin’s perspiration.

Here’s another recipe to add to your DIY bathing beauty book. In addition to its aromatherapeutic benefits, this recipe softens hard water too!

Green Tibet Bath Salt

1 cup grape seed oil

1 cup green tea

1 tablespoon baking soda

½ Epsom salt

1 drop lavender essential oil

1 drop frankincense essential oil

How To:

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and store in your favorite jar. Add half-cup of the infusion to the running bathwater. To keep the essential oils from evaporating too quickly, you can add the bath salts just before getting into the tub. Make sure the salts have dissolved well before your soak, or risk and uncomfortable rear (albeit one that’s nicely exfoliated!).

From The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel