Apr 8, 2014 | Uncategorized
Are you one of the lucky ones that experiences either chronic or acute nasal congestion? If you’re experiencing nasal congestion, morning sneezes, or any nose blockages – the good news is YOU WIN!! Sinus problems happen for many reasons; some of which include air conditioners, pollution, genetics and more.
Regardless, if you have had the ‘pleasure’ of this untimely gift, you know it’s not only a miserable feeling but can turn your whole day upside down, as breathing can be difficult. Regular lung cleansing may be the solution you’ve been looking for as it is helpful to many respiratory ailments. Since we are always breathing, clogged sinuses and congestion in our lungs are conditions we can’t so easily ignore! And when those pathways become hindered, the only things we are desperate for are some efficient inhalations. Good thing is, that menthol crystals are able to provide a significant amount of relief, as menthol reduces broncho-constriction and hyper airway responsiveness.
Products intended for lung cleansing, that contain menthol crystals have shown to provide incredible relief for the tiresome symptoms of upper respiratory complaints, congestion, sore throats and even coughs. You may have noticed that the leading brands of lozenges, drops and balms usually list menthol as their main ingredient. So, it’s no surprise that inhaling the vapor and scent of menthol crystals leave you almost feeling their power as they break up congestion, clear pathways, cooling the burn and soothing irritated membranes. This is so helpful and holds it’s worth in the relief alone!
Are you intrigued? Ready to know how to use them?
What’s great, is that since the crystals are so concentrated, you only need a small amount each time!
Here’s what I want you to do:
Fill a bucket or a pot with about 1/3 of steaming hot water. (if you want to do all of this at the stove, keep the temperature at medium or less as too high of a boil will be too hot for your skin.) Put about 3-4 menthol crystals into the steaming water. Grab a towel and cover your head and the pot with it, leaving space for fresh air to find it’s way in. Then, breath in and out deeply. You may find that it’s hard to breathe in the menthol steam, especially if you have a lot of stubborn congestion. But still try to stick to it for about 15 minutes or until you couldn’t take it anymore. (Turn on some relaxing or revitalizing tunes and let it all go!) Once you, or the steam is done, unveil yourself from the towel and take in few fresh breaths, allowing your body to cool down to let your breathing return to normal. Next? Blow your nose. Blow everything out! But keep in mind not to press on one side of the nose while blowing the other side. Just blow it out naturally and with ease from both sides at the same time. Your head will feel lighter and the nasal pathways more clear. If you got deep enough, you should even feel the mucous in your lungs clearing up as well!
As far as timing goes, if you are able do it every night before bed, it will help you in getting a better night sleep. Over time, you will get so much out that you may even clear your sinusitis one day!
I did mention beautiful, glowing skin, didn’t I? I know it got your attention and I’m happy to tell you… You have just opened the pores of your skin, sweat out impurities, infused your cells with anti-microbial super powers (thank you menthol crystals!) and added to the supple, youthful glow that we all desire!
Don’t worry! You can have and easily afford your own crystals from Eurospa! We are thrilled to be bringing such goodness and freedom to your day! Get your own menthol crystals, breathe clearer, look great and then tell us what you think!
Apr 2, 2014 | Uncategorized
Life keeps us busy and it can be hard to find time to take care of yourself. We get tired and need a boost but tend to reach all too quickly that dependable cup of coffee even if we are sick and our bodies are screaming for nurture and healing!
Often-ignored but totally necessary, self-care can be any behavior or practice that helps us avoid triggering worse health problems (like the risk of heart problems due to high stress, for example) and betters our life quality by improving our mental and physical health through increased self-esteem, less stress, and overall well being. Implementing these simple tips can also help provide balance in our over-stimulating world. Self-care makes up an essential part of a healthy lifestyle that keeps us healthy, happy, and more in-tune with our minds and bodies.
Problem is, we can just do it once and expect change. New patterns of change in our lives can be hard to commit to as they can seem intimidating or we are are afraid of failing. But I’ve compiled these tips because they are easy to implement into our daily lives, allowing us to set new patterns.
So get out a pen and paper and write down the ones that feel right to you; ones that you feel you can accomplish and will make you feel good. Cause that’s what we all want, right? To feel good?
1. A list within a list – I want you to write a list of the things that make you smile, giggle and make your arms spread open in pure joy. What are those things? Can you think of 3? How can you make those things happen each week or even each day? For some, it’s loud happy music and dancing around. For others it’s swimming or playing with a child. Think on that one. Life is best experienced when our hearts can smile. What gets yours going?
2. Get Outside. Ditching the comfort of your home gets us out in the world without obligation; cause walking from your front door to your car doesn’t count. Get outside, take a walk and BREATHE deeply. Being outside alone is associated with less mental stress and increased quality of living.
3. While You’re At It…. Exercise outdoors. We all know the benefits of exercise and even if you’re feeling a little shy – there are plenty of ways to get your heart rate going and oxygen pouring into your lungs. Find a friend to play tennis or go on a long walk with. Find a more private park path or beach to stand strong and engage your core muscles. Climb a tree. Hike. Swim. Run. Bike.
4. Eyes Wide Open. Look around and find happiness. Find love. Notice acts of kindness, encouraging words and heart felt smiles. Watch the love between people and see the beauty in the flowers. It can be hard to get past the sadness and hostility in the world, but when we focus on the beauty still present, we are more excited to share it. Be part of a joy revolution – and start with yourself.
5. Pay It Forward. Have you heard of those stories of people in line at Starbucks, waiting to pay, only to find out that the person ahead of them took the bill? By helping others, we actually help ourselves, too. Lending a hand not only boosts mental health, but may also lead to a longer more fulfilled life. Volunteering also affects self-confidence, self-esteem, and general wellbeing in a positive way.
6. Common Scents. Yes, that was intentional. Essential oils are getting more and more recognition for their healing properties and we are happy that it’s happening. 4. Breathe the right scents. We have all been taught that deep breathing can help us relax. But what we breathe might be just as important as how we breathe. But current research suggests that citrus scents, orange essential oil in particular, can help slash stress and anxiety, and inhaling eucalyptus oil can invigorate the senses while also going deep inside our cells to purify and cleanse us from bacteria and toxins.
7. Get Sleep! So many things can sabotage our sleep, whether it’s a late night working, a reality show marathon, a wild party, or just normal life. The problem is, skimping on sleep can seriously hurt clarity and productivity, causing us to eat more, and may lead to adrenal and thyroid problems; which domino to diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Prioritize your rest to be a healthier, happier you — even if it’s just a power nap on your lunch hour!
Are you ready? Ready to upgrade your experience on the planet? Ready to reduce your stress and feel GOOD?
We are. Eurospa is committed to global self care, which is why we provide top quality eucalyptus products and menthol crystals for spa and home use. Your health is our priority!
How do you reduce the stress? We’d love to hear from you!
Mar 26, 2014 | Uncategorized
Getting to the spa can be a costly adventure but we all deserve to wind down. What if you could have the perks of the spa at home? After all, whether it’s work or family, your days and weeks can become exhausting and it’s good to reward yourself with relaxation and rejuvenation.
Why?
For one thing, STRESS. We all know the word and feelings that come with it very well. Stress not only tenses the muscles in the body but is also believed to be connected to other health issues such as higher blood pressure, headaches and ulcers.
Treat your body well no matter your finances or schedule. I want to share with you some simple ways to relax and create your own spa night in the comfort of your own home.
Pumice your Feet
These are great and easy to find at any local store with shower or beauty supplies in the bath or body section and cost under 3 dollars! Use these to gently scrub dead skin off of calloused and dry places, paying close care not to over scrub or damage the skin. This will exfoliate unnecessary discomfort and build up from your skin, allowing new skin to come through in a healthy and glowing way.
Walk in an Ice Bath
This is a common European and Asian tradition for bettering your circulation and general relaxation. If you are doing this at home, I recommend getting a tub of cold water and ice and placing it either on the bathroom floor or just outside the bathroom. Stand or sit with your water in the tub while moving your toes and feet in opposing motions for just a few moments. Then…
Create a Steam Room
Once you’ve used your makeshift ice bath, enjoy some heat. Either jump into a steaming shower or fill up your tub (before the ice bath) with some hot water. Enhance the experience with some eucalyptus shower spray. It will not only smell nice but further relax your muscles, expand your breathing passages and attack unwanted viruses and bacteria.
Stretch
Don’t underestimate the power of deep and gentle stretching. Allow the renewed circulation and heat of the water to pour into your muscles to aid in their relaxation and healing. Roll your neck from side to side, roll your shoulders and do some gentle twists to really get deep into the tension and let it out.
Breathe Deeply
Don’t forget to breathe. It’s the oxygen coming into the brain and the muscles that causes the rest of the body to relax and heal. So when you breathe, breathe deeply. If you are lucky enough to have the Eucalyptus oil in the air, breathe that much more deeply and be a blessing to your lungs, heart and stress level.
Your body goes through so much environmental, physical and emotional stress each day. At Eurospa, we believe that the body needs to be nurtured through this to experience good health and positive life quality.
Do your best and be gentle with yourself. Life is a gift. Live it well.
by: Navae Fiona
Mar 19, 2014 | Uncategorized
Stress is a hot topic everywhere whether you are male or female and so often it has to do with our busy lives and family dynamic. But how do you relieve that stress when you feel there’s just no time to handle it? It’s time we talk about the simple and affordable tips to relieve stress quickly at home and on the go.
Let’s talk about the men first. We know you guys. You are a hard working crowd with a lot of pressure on your shoulders. And whether you are the game watching or fine dining type, you have the right to experience the relaxing fruit of your labor!
And Ladies? We know you too. Whether you are a mother at home, working hard at your career or the busiest of the two worlds: BOTH, we invite you to take the time here and there to reward yourself for your thorough dedication to your many responsibilities!
I know we all have heard of the dangers stress brings to our lives, but I do want to touch base on a few major points (before I go into the fixes) so that we remember to take it seriously and take charge of the stress relief we so greatly deserve.
So what is stress? It’s simply a fact of nature. Forces from the inside or outside world affect people in various ways and the individual responds to stress in ways that affect both themselves and their environment as well. Due to the overabundance of stress in our modern lives, we tend to think of stress as a negative experience, but from a biological point of view, stress can be a neutral, negative, or positive experience. In general, stress is related to both the external and internal factors. External factors include the physical environment, such as your job, relationships with others, your home and all the situations, challenges, and expectations you have to deal with on a daily basis. Internal factors determine how your body responds to and deals with the external stress-inducing factors. The internal factors that influence your ability to handle all that stress include your nutritional state, overall health and fitness levels, emotional well-being, and the amount of sleep and rest you get.
Now that that’s clear, let’s talk about some simple ways to deal with it all!
- Move Your Body: Pretty clear, don’t you think? When we move our bodies via running, dancing, yoga, weight training, cycling and other forms of movement, we release dopamine (a happy hormone) and get rid of cortisol (the stress hormone that wreaks havoc). Our heart rate increases and our whole bodies get into a groove of joy and excitement.
- Eat Well, Live Well: Just a few simple rules here. Stay away from white foods as much as you can. This includes white breads, pastas, rice and sugar. These cause peaks and lows with our blood sugar, contributing to mood swings and feelings of anxiety. Make sure your food includes veggies and fruits in a variety of color (extra greens if you can) and that you are adequately hydrated. DRINK WATER. You may be surprised at how much that single tip helps!
- Breathe Deep: Annoying people and frustrating circumstances are all around us and this is the most easy tip yet the hardest to remember. Breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply, pausing at the peak of inhalation. This activates the back of your brain, causing a slower and calmer reaction time.
- Relax: This is, of course the most enjoyable tip. What relaxes you? Whether it’s a massage or a slow walk in the park, you can determine what you will enjoy. I know for me, my favorite two things are to sit in a hot tub or sauna or to sit in the sunshine with a book.
- Gratitude: Be thankful. Yes, times can be hard. I’m not at all saying it’s easy. We can recognize the pain, feel it and then take a deep breathe and really be thankful for the beauty that *is* in our lives – the things that are working, the people that do love us and the health we are experiencing.
- Laugh: Enjoy your laughter! Talk to an old friend and think back on old times. Recall stories that make you smile. Play with children. Invite friends over for charades! Watch a comedy. Laughter is healing. Don’t underestimate it’s power.
- Sleep: Here’s the most medicinal one. We tend to slack on sleep because our work and family load can keep us busy until midnight. Then we wake to being our recurring routine at 6 am the following morning and then wonder why we are burnt out. Many medical studies agree that we need to turn off all media at least an hour prior to bed time. In that hour, practice the art of being in the present moment and just letting everything else go. Take a hot bath with some drops of lavender oil and a few sprays of eucalyptus shower mist to the steam – and do the same with the lavender and eucalyptus to your pillow and bed sheets for an even deeper sleep relaxation. Read, pray and be thankful. Trust that tomorrow will have plenty of beauty of it’s own to be thankful for as well.
Your health is so important and it begins with your state of mind and being. Take care of your mind, body and soul and the rest will begin to fall more peacefully into place. At Eurospa we want to know that people’s live are enriched and full of beautiful health. Don’t hesitate to ask what we can do for you!
Enjoy the day that awaits you!
by: Navae Fiona
Mar 17, 2014 | Uncategorized
Headaches can be a real day stopper and have the unpleasant gift of showing up at the most inconvenient times! I don’t like over the counter medicine and love to find alternatives. So, when a headache shows up during my busy day of work, the house and kids, I need some ways to cure the pain at home with quick and natural remedies.
I gathered up my tried and true and am happy to share with you my favorite ways to cure a headache at home:
Eucalyptus Oil:
Applying eucalyptus oil to your forehead can be incredibly soothing for stress headaches in the same manner as peppermint oil. (see below) Like peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil can soothe, relax muscles and clear nasal passages. It’s great to inhale as well, because it has anti microbial properties that can help attack germs and viruses that may be causing the headache. Either put a few drops of eucalyptus oil into a bowl of steaming water and inhale deeply or take advantage of our Eucalyptus Oil Shower Spray, while enjoy a nice shower or bath!
Peppermint Oil:
This is a good one to keep in the car! Store a little bottle of peppermint oil in your glove box for those headaches on the go. Rubbing even a few drops on your temples has proven to relieve the pain of tension headaches. Peppermint oil creates a relaxing cooling sensation once in contact with the skin and helps ease the tension in your head and neck muscles. The scent also has the power to calm your nerves and clear your sinus passages, which can help greatly if your headache is caused by stress or sinus pressure.
Lavender Oil:
Lavender’s scent has an incredibly strong effect on the nervous system, including relieving problems such as sleep issues, anxiety and stress, which can all contribute to headaches. Some evidence suggests that lavender can even help relieve the pain of even the migraines! Simply place a few drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow, create a spray by diluting the oil in water and spray into the room around you, create a lavender sachet or brew a cup of lavender tea to take full advantage of this natural headache reliever.
Of course there are some other common home remedies that should not be forgotten.
- Hydrate! Try to drink 2-3 liters per day.
- Sleep! Get 7-9 hours each night.
- Massage! Gently massage your middle and index finger at your temples.
- Relax! We over schedule ourselves too often. Stop. Pause. Breathe deeply.
Take charge of your health with the power of natural medicine! We love doing what we can to help which is why we began Eurospa in the first place. Come visit us and see how we can make your world a healthier place!
by: Navae Fiona
Mar 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
The Spring sun has not only come out but it’s come out strong and in all it’s glory! And with Summer not too far behind, we need to make sure we know how to protect and nourish our skin.
I don’t need to spend too much time on sunscreen, because by now, we all know that we need to properly defend our skin from the strong rays of the sun.
Beaches and poolsides offer relaxation and relief during the bright warm months and we tend to love soaking it up! But there are many times when we just can’t help ourselves and loose track of time and those lovely warming rays get a little too deep.
So here are some ways to not only heal that sunburn fast and naturally at home, while possibly turning it into a tan. After all, the most important key to turning that sunburn into a tan is to heal it FAST.
1. COOL IT DOWN
Cool your sunburned skin immediately. Dip into a very cool bath, shower or even splash cool water on affected skin, right after you come in out of the sun. Cooling the burn minimizes damage to skin layers.
2. TREAT IT WELL
Spray the burn with diluted lavender oil. Or, grab our own Eucalyptus Oil Shower Mist .If you choose to go with the lavender, just mix a few drops to a cup of water and pour into a clean spray bottle. Shake well before using. Both lavender and eucalyptus are good for mild (first-degree) burns of any kind.
3. KEEP IT LOOSE
Your skin is particularly sensitive right now and the nicest thing you can do for it is to wear loose fitting natural fabrics. Just say NO to poly blends! Cotton and hemp fabrics are breathable and soft on the healing skin. If you want to heal fast, you’ve got to baby the skin and treat it as gently as possible.
4. RINSE AND REPEAT
Repeat the above steps. Before you go to bed and once you get up in the morning, shower again. It will not only feel soothing, but it will steal the heat from the skin, speeding the healing along. Make sure you do another spray down session with your Lavender or Eucalyptus Spray before you go to bed, to really make sure those oils can use the night to penetrate into your skin.
5. HYDRATE
Try to moisturize as often as possible each day after you get that blessed sunburn and drink plenty of water. I’m not kidding. DRINK A LOT OF WATER. I can’t stress that enough. Sunburns dry out the skin immensely. Staying hydrated on the inside and out will keep your many skin layers from dying and peeling. And we don’t want peely skin! We want supple, moist and glowing skin!!
6. BE SHADY
As long as you have that burn, stay in the shade. You will only prolong and aggravate the healing process by exposing your skin to more sun. So stay cool, covered and moisturized!
I hope those tips were helpful. For further aiding in healing, feel free to add some vitamin E to your daily regimen and foods like apricots and cucumbers, which are high in E and silica – great for skin! To keep your youthful glow, keep up the hydrate, moisturize and essential oil routine. These daily practices will keep nourishing your skin and will continue to protected from normal environmental harm.
We love your health and want you to feel good. That’s why we at Eurospa do what we do. So let us know what we can do for you!
Get out there and enjoy the sun! That’s what it’s there for!!
by: Navae Fiona
