Feb 20, 2019 | Health & Wellness, Spas, Steam Rooms & Saunas
Many of us are spending some more time in the gym this time of year, and you may have walked past the steam room without a second thought on if it’s worth staying for an extra 15 minutes before going home. Long story short: yes. It’s totally worth it! Before we hop into all the benefits of using a steam room, let’s clear up a big question you might have:
What’s the difference between a steam room and a sauna? Are they the same?
The short answer is no, they’re definitely different! The biggest difference is that saunas use dry heat and are much warmer. Steam rooms are still warm, but not quite as intense as a sauna. The humidity level is also much higher.
Now that we have that cleared up, let’s jump into all the wonderful reasons to use a steam room:
Decongestion
If you have a stuffy nose from a cold or sinus infection, steam therapy can be amazingly helpful. The combination of warmth and moisture works wonders to open up the nasal passages and thin out mucous to help you recover more quickly.
Improved Circulation
Moist heat really helps to get the blood flowing, especially in the legs and arms. When your circulation improves, so does your heart health. High blood pressure also tends to get lower (side note: this is one of the reasons why you feel relaxed in a steam room!).
Glowing Skin
No need to spend all your money on an expensive facial! Moist steam opens up the pores and releases toxins beneath the skin as well as any dirt, bacteria, or dead skin on the skin’s surface. Because of this, you may have more clear and even skin.
Workout Recovery
There’s a reason why many people sit in the steam room at the gym after a workout – and not just to relax! Moist heat penetrates deep into muscle tissue to aid in healing and also loosens stiff joints. Since we know that steam rooms also improve circulation, all that flowing blood also helps to promote healing.
We love steam rooms on their own, but we also love using some of our many 100% Pure Eucalyptus ShowerMists to amp up the healing and benefits. Take one of our ShowerMists and spritz a few sprays into the steam (away from your face) and breathe deeply. It’s an easy but effective way to make your time in the steam room even more beneficial.
Feb 13, 2019 | Aromatherapy, Health & Wellness
When you have a migraine, it’s easy to feel completely depleted – like you don’t want to even move or speak, let alone get anything productive done. When you’re feeling a migraine coming on, there are steps you can take to help prevent one from coming or ease your symptoms. Here are some of our favorite essential oils to help naturally relieve migraines and headaches:
Lavender
Lavender oil is most commonly used for stress relief, better sleep, and relaxation, but it has also been shown to reduce pain because it is anti-inflammatory and dilates blood vessels. A favorite way to get the benefits of Lavender is to run it in a diffuser. Put your diffuser next to your bed and breathe in the vapor for a while to alleviate some of your migraine symptoms while you relax.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is one of the most popular oils to help with migraines and headaches. The high menthol content helps with easing pain and relaxing muscles. If you also get nauseous when you have a migraine, Peppermint works wonders for that as well! One way to use Peppermint is to sniff it directly from the bottle.
Eucalyptus
Sometimes headaches or migraines are caused by sinus issues and Eucalyptus is perfect for helping the sinuses. Eucalyptus will open the nasal passages and relieve some of the tension that’s causing you pain. You can use Eucalyptus by diluting it in some a carrier oil (like fractionated coconut oil) and applying it to your chest or the bottom of your feet.
Another way that we love to get the benefits of these amazing oils is by taking a steamy shower with one of our ShowerMists. You can even make a concoction using more than one of them to get better results! Simply run a hot shower and spritz a few sprays of your ShowerMists of choice into the steam and breathe in.
Do you have any other natural headache and migraine remedies that we should know about?
Feb 6, 2019 | All About Eucalyptus, Aromatherapy, Health & Wellness
All of us have times where we feel like we just can’t wake up after we get out of bed in the morning. It’s especially hard when the days are shorter and therefore it’s dark more often. Rather than reach for an energy drink, essentials are a proven and effective natural way to get more energy in the morning – or any time of the day you need a pick-me-up, really!
Here are some of the ways that essential oils can boost your energy:
- Elevates your mood
- Alleviates feelings of fatigue and tiredness
- Increases productivity
- Helps with concentration and focus
There are several essential oils that can help with natural energy boosts, but here are someone of our favorites:
Peppermint
Peppermint has many wonderful benefits, and one of them is that it is a powerhouse when it comes to energy. The invigorating aroma is great for perking up your senses and bringing clarity and focus to the mind. Since it is also antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal, Peppermint does great things for you physically as well. It’s great all-around!
Citrus
Orange, lemon, grapefruit, and lime are powerful and uplifting essential oils. They are proven to promote happiness and positivity, reduce mental fatigue and stress, as well as improve energy levels. The scents are not overpowering, but the benefits are definitely powerful. All of these oils can be found in our Citrus-Infused Eucalyptus ShowerMist to get all the benefits at once!
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is one of our favorite oils, and for good reason! Its benefits are amazing. Eucalyptus is anti-inflammatory, decongesting, antimicrobial, antiviral, and so much more. Studies have shown that it stimulates the immune system, which means that it is wonderful for getting a boost of energy when you need it. The menthol scent alone can give you a boost!
There are many ways to use essential oils to get these great benefits. You can apply them topically to pressure points like the inside of your wrists or your temples (be careful not to get any in your eyes!). You can inhale the scent directly from the bottle or use a diffuser.
We love using our ShowerMists to get all the benefits of these essentials oils while also getting in a relaxing shower. All you need to do is run a steamy shower, spritz a few sprays into the steam (away from your face), and breathe in those benefits.
How do you like to use essential oils?
Jan 30, 2019 | Aromatherapy, Health & Wellness
Menthol Crystals are small but mighty when it comes to natural remedies to common ailments. These crystals are made as a natural by-product of steam-distilled peppermint essential oil. The refreshing aroma and cooling sensation will remind you of products that use menthols, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, or pain relief liniments. There are several ways to use these crystals and a wide variety of benefits.
Here are five benefits of using Menthol Crystals:
Itch Relief
The cooling sensation of Menthol can dramatically reduce itchiness caused by a skin reaction or other irritation. Simply mix a small amount of the crystals in with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil or aloe vera and apply topically to the itchy area and get relief instantly.
Sunburn
In the same way, some Menthol Crystals mixed with aloe vera provides significant relief when applied to a sunburn.
Reduce Inflammation
If you have a bruise or scrape, Menthol Crystals can be applied directly to the area to reduce inflammation. If you have a sore, inflamed throat, apply topically around your neck and it will help with that too!
Congestion Relief
Perhaps one of the most popular ways to use Menthol Crystals is for congestion relief. Simply add a small amount of crystals to an empty saucepan and then pour in some boiling water. This creates an all-natural, menthol-infused vapor you can inhale for relief.
Hair Growth
Add some Menthol Crystals to your favorite hair oil and massage it into your scalp before you shower twice a week and it will act as a hair growth accelerant.
These are just a handful of ways you can use Menthol Crystals to help alleviate everyday ailments. Are there any other ways that you use Menthol Crystals that have been helpful to you?
Jan 23, 2019 | Aromatherapy, Health & Wellness
Because we can’t control everything that happens to us in life, having stressful seasons is just inevitable. But just because it’s inevitable doesn’t mean you just have to lie back and let it consume you. Aromatherapy is a holistic form of treatment using natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being and has been used by humans for thousands of years to deal with things like managing pain, sleeping better, fighting sickness, and – you guessed it! – easing stress.
There are dozens of essential oils that are a great help for easing stress, but here are a few of our favorites:
Lavender
This is one of the most known and well-loved essential oils for aromatherapy, and for good reason. Lavender calms both the body and mind and that allows anxiety and stress to melt away. Studies have shown that people who used Lavender to combat stress and anxiety had great success in relieving generalized anxiety, disturbed sleep, and restlessness.
Lemon
Lemon oil (found in our Citrus-Infused 100% Pure Eucalyptus ShowerMist) has not only also been shown to ease symptoms of stress and depression, but citrus oils also are mood-boosting and uplifting. That’s killing two birds with one stone!
Eucalyptus + Peppermint
When you’re feeling stressed, that often comes with mental fog and just general sluggishness. Eucalyptus and Peppermint are instantly refreshing – bringing mental clarity, boosting your mood, and easing stress.
Now that we know what oils are great for easing stress, there are a few ways that you can integrate them into your life. You can mix oils into a carrier oil like coconut oil and roll them onto your pressure points, inhale them directly from their containers, or – our personal favorite format – in a steamy shower!
There’s no denying the healing powers of a hot shower, but adding one of our 100% Pure Eucalyptus ShowerMists can bring that healing to the next level by using aromatherapy. All of the oils we’ve talked about in the post can be found in one of our ShowerMists.
To use a ShowerMist, simply run a hot shower and then spritz a few sprays into the steam (away from your face). Breathe in all those healing properties.
What are your favorite ways to use essential oils?
Jan 16, 2019 | All About Eucalyptus, Aromatherapy, Health & Wellness, House & Home
Our ShowerMists are a fan favorite for relaxing, invigorating showers and baths. After all, nothing beats hot steam and aromatherapy! But that’s not all they can be used for. In fact, today we’re sharing five more ideas to help you make the most of your bottle, all around your home.
Grab your ShowerMist and get to spritzing in the kitchen, bedroom, mudroom, and more!
Deodorize Sneakers in the Mudroom
At the end of a long school day, give those tired feet a rest! Have your kids kick off their shoes, then spritz a few pumps of Tea Tree-Infused Eucalyptus ShowerMist into the soles to kill any lingering sweat and bacteria that was picked up on the playground. Let the shoes air out overnight before wearing again in the morning.
Freshen Up Your Kitchen
No one likes a stinky kitchen! A few quick sprays of our Citrus-Infused Eucalyptus ShowerMist can help keep trash can and garbage disposal odors at bay. Simply spritz a little down the drain or in the bin before you place a new trash bag inside. Want another boost of freshness? Peel any overripe, mushy citrus fruits you have laying around, toss a few small pieces into the disposal, and grind up while running some water.
Get a Great Night’s Sleep
Do racing thoughts have you struggling to fall asleep? Hold our Lavender-Infused Eucalyptus ShowerMist a few feet away from your bed and lightly spritz your pillows and sheets for a soothing scent that’ll help you wind down. The natural sedative properties of Lavender will have you counting sheep in no time! Bonus: it works for kids too!
Increase Focus in the Study Nook
Did you know that the zing of peppermint isn’t just a great way to freshen your breath, but can help you wake up, too? Spray some Mint-Infused Eucalyptus ShowerMist around the table while studying, reading, or working on the computer to encourage focus and feelings of alertness. If you’re also looking to ease stress, anxiety, and nervousness while you’re studying, try using our Menthol Crystals and Warmer. Keep working hard and ace that test!
Keep the Laundry Room Free of Mildew
Prevent mildew or musty smells by spritzing your dirty laundry hampers with your favorite ShowerMist. You can also spray a little on towels between uses for a clean, refreshing scent. This also works great for keeping road trip laundry bags fresh or when you’ll be drying a lot of towels and bathing suits in your hotel room.
Do you own one of our ShowerMists?
Which scent is your favorite and how do you like to use it?
