What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy uses the scents of essential oils to heal the body by stimulating our nasal and olfactory senses, mental responses, circulatory system, and respiratory functions. Aromatherapy can be used with most any massage.... (read more)

Aromatic herbs for bathing

Scent has long been recognized as the most evocative of the five senses--memories can be recalled and moods altered with the introduction of specific smells.One thing to remember -- your skin absorbs. Along with scent, this absorption is how herbal baths nourish and rejuvenate your body, and also why you should be aware of what goes into the products you use. Whether you're run down or stre.....(read more)

B vitamin hype: with the promise of fighting acne, rosacea, and tumors, what can this vitamin really do for you?

Vitamin B is no small time player in the high stakes game of beauty. Pellagra is
a life threatening skin disease characterized by dementia, diarrhea, and dermatitis that results from a niacin (B vitamin) deficiency. In the early 20th century in the South and Midwest of the United States, pellagra plagued thousands of people. The condition was thought to be contagious until investigators......(read more)

Basic skin care

Healthy, beautiful skin is possible to achieve, but elusive to many. Despite the myriad of advertisements claiming that one cream or one product can give you the smooth, clear, wrinkle-free complexion that most people hope for, skin care is in fact a complex process grounded in real science and human physiology. Many factors contribute to our......(read more)

Coming clean: the truth about soap

Soap is the oldest cleanser around. It is created by a chemical reaction between oils, water and lye. Although lye is used to make soap, there is no lye left ftersaponification (the chemical reaction that makes soap) is complete. There is no such thing as a bar of soap that was made without the use of lye. Different kinds of soap are ......(read more)

Creating your own herbal recipes

Traditionally, various herbs have been recommended for specific problems; many herbs having more than one attribute appear in more than one category. Those herbs listed here are just a few of the many herbs available. This is where mix-and-match skills come into play, as you concoct a formula tailored especially for yourself.......(read more)

What is deep-tissue massage?

This form of massage reaches deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims at releasing chronic tension in the body through slow hand strokes and deep finger pressure. "With deep-tissue work, the therapist focuses on warming up tightened areas, usually at the points where muscles originate and end," says Jason Kalfin, L.M.T. at the Mezzanine....(read more)

Home spa - honey mask for dry skin

This is Stephanie Tourles' favorite mask for dry, flaky skin. Honey is a humectant, drawing moisture from the air to your skin, and also keeping the moisture from escaping........(read more)

Home spa - aromatherapy facial massage

This treatment is suitable for a person with any skin type, even an oily-skinned person who may avoid putting oil on her face. Actually, an aromatherapy facial can help bring problem skin into balance. When you give the skin oil, it gets a signal that it doesn't need to produce as much. If you dry out the skin [with harsh cleansers], it gets a signal it needs to produce more.....(read more)

Home spa - fennel-chamomile facial steam

This is a particularly effective remedy for rough, chapped skin, says esthetician Stephanie Tourles, author of The Herbal Body Book: A Natural Approach to Healthier Hair, Skin and Nails (Storey, 1994)."Fennel and chamomile are so gentle. Fennel is especially nourishing for dry skin because it makes the skin very soft afterward." Those with acne should avoid this because the steam will aggravate their skin.....(read more)

Home spa - deep-cleaning hair mask

If your hair is dry and lifeless, part of the problem could be too little oil reaching your scalp. We're all so stressed out that circulation to the scalp is cut off because of tightness in the neck and shoulders. Dry air, dirt, and pollution complete the limp hair look. To increase circulation and draw out dirty build-up, try this massage and mud treatment If you have one, try massaging in the mud with a scalp brush, a flat, handle-lessr....(read more)

Home spa - deep pore treatment for oily skin

This remedy does double duty as both a cleanser and mask, says Stephanie Tourles. Tomato and cucumber are mild astringents.1/4 medium-sized ripe tomato or a
1-inch chunk of peeled cucumber Up to 1 Tbs. water 1 tsp. almond meal....(readmore)

Home spa - salt scrub for the body

This is a quick, invigorating treatment that can be done in the morning. A gentle scrubbing with salt sloughs away dead skin; the oatmeal wash that follows softens the skin. Mindy Creen likes this scrub because it stimulates circulation of the lymphatic system, a critical player in immunity that has no internal pump to keep it moving, like.....(read more)

What is hot-stone massage?

Volcanic stones in various sizes, heated to temperatures between 135[degrees]F and 150[degrees]F are used to massage the body. During the massage, additional stones are placed along the spine over the seven chakras (a Sanskrit term for major energy centers situated along the spine). Placing heat over the chakras unblocks any stagnation of energy in those spots. The hot stones can also.....(read more)

Your most important cosmetic

Are you a skin care junkie? Is your bathroom closet overflowing
with bottles and jars? Does the content of these bottles and
jars actually do anything to improve your skin?My guess is "sometimes." We can all be seduced by promises of younger looking skin or the ability...(read more)

Make your own herb and spice mixes

I love inventing new herb and spice combination to increase the flavor of our meals. With the great variety of herbs and spices, our palates should never be bored!There is such good health and cost benefit to making your own mixes. You won't have unnecessary salt added to your mixes, and you will save money too! Once you get a whiff of your own herb mixes, you'll never go back to those little tins on the grocery st....(read more)

Natural cosmetics

In a world full of technology, machines, and elements, the only thing protecting our bodies is our skin. Did you know we spend around 6 to 20 percent of our disposable income on products for our skin? Our skin is important to us, and most of us will do
anything to preserve its youth and longevity.....(read more)

What is reflexology?

Reflexology is a science and art based on the belief that there are reflex areas on the feet, ears, and hands that correspond to every organ, gland, and part of the body," explains reflexology expert and L.M.T. Laura Norman, author of....(read more)

The secrets to beautiful skin

Everyone wants their skin to be the best possible. Here are some ideas and information to help you have radiant, healthy skin. Start a new skin care program now to ensure great results....(read more)

The secrets of becoming more beautiful

Like every organ in our body, the skin requires adequate nutrition to function properly. It needs pharmaceutical-grade nutrients that provide advanced levels of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and cofactors, in convenient morning and evening regimens. Nutrien.....(read more)

Signs of aging and preventing the appearance of new lines

Skin is the body's largest organ. It can absorb either healthyor unhealthysubstances. Pharmaceutical-grade products focus primarily on the cellular health of the skin, and use the newest technologies available to create products that are both effective and safe. Pharmaceutical-grade complexes should be thoroughly testedbydermatologists, allergists, and ophthalmologists to ensure quality and safety.....(read more)

Skin beauty... do anti-aging creams really turn back the clock?

If you believe the television advertisements for skin care products, then, your answer would be a definite yes. These TV commercials suggest that, if you use this or that product, you too can have a flawless and beautiful complexion -- and, by
subtle inference, be happy. But, is this reality or an illusion? It is both. Many products can certainly make your skin look better at the time of application, but the real test is when.....(read more)

Skin care and the physiology of the skin

The largest organ of the human body is the skin. It protects our bodies from the environment, maintains body temperature, excretes waste matter, gives sensory information to the brain and regulates body moisture. It is important to consider,
then, how cosmetic products affect our skin. In this article, the psycho-social impact of cosmetics will be examined, as well as why cosmetics....(read more)

Your skin type

Most people don't think of their skin as an organ, but the truth is that it is our largest vital organ. Skin that is clogged and unhealthy is not just a beauty problem. It can become a hindrance to your sense of vitality and wellness. Proper care of your skin is important, not only to your personal sense of beauty, but also to proper elimination, more graceful aging, and overall health.....(read more)

Summer skin care

Healthy skin is slightly acidic, due to the acid mantle which covers it. The acid mantle is a combination of sebum and perspiration designed to protect the skin from the environment. Each day we lose 29 ounces of water through perspiration, so
drinking water is helpful in replacing this lost fluid. During the summer, water loss is more rapid, and humid....(read more)

What is Swedish massage?

A contemporary Swedish massage includes gliding strokes, kneading movements, circular pressure, tapping, and stretching. The technique was developed in the 1700's by Pir Henrik Ling, a Swedish doctor who used his understanding of physiology to create this treatment. It includes massage and physical exercise. It became the first...(read more)

The fountain of youth - right in front of us all this time!

In large part, your everyday lifestyle choices contribute to the way you age, and the rate at which your body ages. Diet, environmental factors, exercise and the topical skincare products and skin care regimen you choose, all affect the way you are going to appear now and ten, twenty, and thirty years down the road. It's no surprise that lifestyle plays a pivotal role in how one’s body....(read more)

Uncovering your skin

It is important to take care of our skin now because, if we don't, we will suffer the consequences later on in life. Just look at any person with bad skin. Chances are they didn't take care of their skin when they were younger. "It is important to know your skin type and its condition.....(read more)

What is shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a Japanese term that means finger pressure. "It's based on the concept that the body has a series or energy points known as tsubo," says Yemi Ketema, L.M.T. and owner of Yemi K Spa in Beverly Hills, California. "If these points are balanced, you're more likely to experience good health." A therapist reestablishes balance by applying pressure along these points with....(read more)

Back