Lifestyle Choices

It is a good idea to start with three or four essences and then experiment, each time adding more oils to your collection as you get to know them. Some of the best to start with are jasmine, sandalwood, geranium, neroli, lavender, and cinnamon.

Always keep your essences in a cool place (the refrigerator is ideal) in dark glass bottles. Essential oils are highly volatile and easily destroyed by heat and sunlight. They have to be treated like something very precious.

Here are some of the common uses of essential oils:

Skin

To improve circulation For broken veins

For oily skin (more…)

ELDER (Sambucus nigra)

Flowers, leaves, stems and roots of the elder can all be used medicinally. For cosmetics, though, the flowers are usually used. They are gently astringent and they soothe and soften the skin. Make a tea or wash by pouring 1 litre (4 cups) boiling water over 500 ml (2 cups) flowers. Stand, steep, cool and strain. Keep what you don’t use at once in the refrigerator. The leaves make an excellent tea — take equal quantities of water and leaves and boil them up together for 5 minutes, then cool and strain — which can be used to soothe sunburned skin, or give relief from mosquito bites. Diluted, it can be used in the bath and to bleach freckles. Add flowers to night creams and steep in sweet oil for massage.

EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus globulus)

The leaves of the gum tree make a good bath additive and, if you can find it, the leaves of the lemon scented gum tree are especially beautiful. Add it to creams, oils and vinegars for a wonderful lemon fragrance. An oil made by steeping the leaves in either maize or almond oil makes a soothing rub for aching muscles. A steam for opening and cleansing pores can also be made by pouring a litre (4 cups) boiling water over a bowl packed with leaves. Use a towel tent and inhale — it clears the nose and sinuses too. (more…)

Bubble Bath Oil

This is a nourishing and softening oil and children love it.

250 ml (1 cup) good quality soap, grated

1 litre (4 cups) boiling water, into which 6 sprigs rosemary or lavender, approx 20 cm long, have been steeped for 15 minutes

25 ml (2 tbsp) witch-hazel

50 ml (4 tbsp) glycerine

12,5 ml (1 tbsp) wheatgerm oil

few drops lavender oil (more…)

You may well be aware of the benefits of massage. Massage increases circulation, promotes sleep, reduces stress levels, increases muscle tone, promotes elimination of toxins and waste, supports weight loss, increases skin pliability and enhances well-being - to name but a few. Imagine if you could do this every day. Well, you can, and it only takes a few minutes every morning to do it.

How would you feel if we told you we both have a full body massage every day? Well, it’s true, and we have been having these massages every day for the past 14 years - not once have we missed a day! It is the ultimate skin treatment. We love it and cannot imagine life without it. Having a daily full body rub or massage is a great insurance policy for your overall health. The important thing to remember is to ensure the products you massage your body with are natural and full of essential vitamins and minerals. Also, it is important to make sure this is a good body rub, not some airy-fairy tickle! You want your body to wake up, feel alive and be ready to get into your day. You may have guessed by now that your daily body massage is performed by YOU!

A little note: how do you feel when you stand naked in front of a mirror? Are you horrified, pleased, shocked or rapt? If for some reason you cannot stand in front of the mirror every morning and say: ‘Wow - I look and feel great: then you definitely need to take on the daily body massage routine! (more…)