Q: What is aromatherapy and what can it do for me? A:
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils (botanical extracts or essences) from flowers, herbs, and trees to care for the body, promoting health and well-being. More popularly used oils include lemon, ylang-ylang, lavender, and peppermint. These essential oils, can be added to a bath, massaged through the skin, inhaled directly, used with teas, added to homemade cleaning products or scented in a room.
Aromatherapy has been shown to carry many benefits in terms of wellness and stress relief. For example, one study showed that aromatherapy does indeed have an effect on brain waves, and can alter behavior.
The benefit of using essential oils can be analgesic, antidepressant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, fungicidal, immuno-stimulant, sedative, stimulant and tonic.
Adding aromatherapy to your massage treatment can increase the effectiveness of your session. Here at Apothecary Wellness, we have specific blends of oils that have been specially created for Balance, Relaxation, Nurturing, Sinus/Headache relief, or Energy. We also carry single note essential oils such as Lavender, Bergamot, Clary Sage and Lemon. Try adding on aromatherapy to your next treatment and see what it does for you.
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Spring Clean your Skin Care
Spring is a natural time for transformation. As rhythms of nature change with the season, your skin may experience changes too. Now is the perfect time to adjust your regimen to balance your own rhythms. Pause, evaluate and get glowing.
Here are some spring-friendly changes you should make to your skin care regime right now
Get to know your skin
Before you can help your skin, you have to understand it. It helps to be educated on how your skin works, what customized routine will work best for your skin type and condition and which products will give you the results you are looking for. Scheduling a facial with one of our skin care therapists is a great way to gain this knowledge.
Adjust your moisturizer
Winter's dry air called for a stronger moisturizer, but warm weather brings increased humidity, which in turn can make you sweat and increase your skin's production of natural oils. Switch to a lighter moisturizer, that is suited for your skin type and condition. Try the Apple & Lemon Whipped Moisturizer from ilike organic skin care or the Melissa Day Cream from Dr.Hauschka.
Don't forget the Sunscreen
The beauty rule is - as long as there's daylight, you need sunscreen. If you skipped out on using an SPF moisturizer on your skin during the winter months, spring is the season to get back on track. Try our Lavender Protective Moisturizer in SPF 17, or a Pressed Base from gloMinerals which gives you an SPF of 18.
Gently exfoliate your skin
Even though skin exfoliation should be done throughout the year, spring is the season to give our skin the attention it deserves. Dry body brushing can help to decrease dry skin and flakiness. Follow it up with an application of a nurturing body oil from Dr.Hauschka, such as the Lemon Lemongrass Body Oil, and your skin will be conditioned and smooth. It's not a good idea to use strong scrubbing exfoliants on your face, however, as they can damage the skin and cause micro tears on delicate tissue. Instead try the Oat Facial Polish from Naturopathica or the Spinach & Horsetail Exfoliator from ilike organic skin care.
Update your makeup for the season
Just as your makeup changes in colors from season to season, so should the physical qualities of your makeup. Try using a lighter foundation, such as the Sheer Tint from gloMinerals. Replace your moisturizing lipstick or lip balm with a lighter gloss that won't leave lips feeling weighted down or oily. Put away those cream based eye shadows for lighter powders that won't clump or run in warmer temperatures and humidity.
Eat for your skin's health
You probably already know to avoid fried and fatty foods that can contribute to skin problems. But don't forget to eat positively for your skin's health as well. Take advantage of warm weather's produce bounty to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that are good for your skin, like leafy greens and antioxidant rich fruits and berries. You can also try our Greens First powder, the antioxidant boost will help keep skin clear and healthy - from the inside out.
Don't forget about our
Dr.Hauschka Skin Care Event on
Saturday, April 14 from 1-4 pm.
Come out and talk to a Dr.Hauschka representative and a certified Dr.Hauschka esthetician.
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Coming out of Depression
and Into Wellness
by Rachel Costello
My background is in dance. I started when I was 4 years old. I trained and performed locally with my dance company until I was about 20. Then I really started to focus on my studies in school and I stopped dancing or really doing anything physical for about 6 years. I started to notice I couldn't push myself the way I used to. I didn't recover from injuries well. I had a sprained ankle that took years to fully heal. I was having a lot of neck and shoulder pain and jaw tension. Eventually I became unable to deal with stress and I became clinically depressed. I was put on medication to combat the depression and anxiety I was experiencing that made it impossible for me to participate in everyday life. Every therapist and doctor I spoke with recommended physical exercise to combat the depression. Of course since I was depressed it was hard to get started so I took baby steps to try and get myself moving. I started by taking walks in the woods. While this was getting me out of my bed and some fresh air it still wasn't getting my heart rate up which my doctors said would help combat the depression. I remembered how much I loved roller-skating as a kid so I actually got some roller blades and tried those out.
 I then added massage and acupuncture to my self-care regime. Not only was the massage and acupuncture helpful but also I had created a network of people that were helping me and taking care of me during this tough time. I think one of the toughest things about depression is that it makes you want to isolate and this can be one of the worst things to do to yourself when you need as much support and love as you can possibly get. After several weeks of dedicated self-care I started to notice an improvement. I was able to sleep and eat better and my mood became more even. I eventually came off of my medications and was able to stay healthy without them. Whenever life starts to get hectic and I start to feel the stress creeping in I go back to my basics. Get a massage, an acupuncture treatment, work out, and eat something delicious and healthy. The more I move the better I seem to feel and the more things I try the more things I find I can do to exercise that aren't a total drag.
There have been times since that I have gone back and used medication to help me along but I am at a point now where I am managing my mental health without prescription drugs. By no means am I suggesting that this a formula to cure depression. This is what has helped me. Every individual is different and needs to be treated as such. Honor your individuality and yourself by designing a self-care regime that works for you. You may have to try a few combinations of things before you find what works so don't be afraid to say, "This doesn't work for me." Knowing what doesn't work is just as valuable as knowing what does work.
Apothecary Wellness is here for you. We want our clients to be as healthy and happy as possible. We offer a variety of services that can help support you and get you on a road to wellness including holistic health coaching, reiki, and craniosacral therapy juts to name a few. Not only do we offer an array of services but our team also has over 50 years of combined experience to help you find a way to wellness. Our monthly Wellness Program makes it affordable to try massage, acupuncture, reflexology, cupping, or even a relaxing and divine custom organic facial. Our therapists are well trained and go beyond just working with you while you're on their massage table. Out team will provide you with tools so you can continue what we do at home and on your own. Come in and meet us today to see what we can do for you.
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Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
Acupuncture for facial beauty is a wonderful, holistic, alternative approach to fighting the aging process by increasing the flow of energy, blood and lymph circulation, thereby improving the skin's natural, healthy glow, diminishing wrinkles and eliminating fine lines. It promotes collagen production, increases muscle tone and elasticity, helping to firm the skin, filling out wrinkles and reducing bags and sagging.
Acupuncture is a natural, safe and effective option for fighting the signs of aging. Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture (also known as cosmetic acupuncture) may be the alternative you have been looking for.
Acupuncture facelifts have been featured in the mainstream media, such as on ABC's "Good Morning America" and PBS's "Healthweek." A study of 300 cases treated with facial acupuncture showed that 90% has marked beneficial results with only one course of treatment (International Journal of Clinical Acupuncture, 1996).
Facial rejuvenation acupuncture has been touted as a way of improving health and beauty by correcting, not masking, the underlying imbalances which challenge the actual causes of skin aging. These treatments require no recovery time and are less costly, healthier and safer than many other more invasive treatments, without the side effects of surgery, chemicals or injections.
Check out our website for more information.
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Drink your Greens
Virtually every health authority recommends that we get 6-8 servings of vegetables and fruits per day and very few of us actually get that. Juicing is an easy way to virtually guarantee that you will reach your daily target for vegetables.
While you can certainly juice fruits, if you are overweight, have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol it is best to limit using fruits until you normalize these conditions.
The exception would be lemons and limes which have virtually none of the offending sugar that causes most of the metabolic complications. Additionally lemons or limes are amazing at eliminating the bitter taste of the dark deep leafy green vegetables that provide most of the benefits of juicing.
Reasons to Juice
There are three main reasons why you will want to consider incorporating vegetable juicing into your optimal health program:
- Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. This is important because most of us have impaired digestion as a result of making less-than-optimal food choices over many years. This limits your body's ability to absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. Juicing will help to "pre-digest" them for you, so you will receive most of the nutrition, rather than having it go down the toilet.
- Juicing allows you to consume an optimal amount of vegetables in an efficient manner. If you are a carb type, you should eat one pound of raw vegetables per 50 pounds of body weight per day. Some people may find eating that many vegetables difficult, but it can be easily accomplished with a quick glass of vegetable juice.
- You can add a wider variety of vegetables in your diet. Many people eat the same vegetable salads every day. This violates the principle of regular food rotation and increases your chance of developing an allergy to a certain food. But with juicing, you can juice a wide variety of vegetables that you may not normally enjoy eating whole.
You can also try our Greens First Powder, it contains the antioxidant boost of 15 servings of vegetables and fruit. Ask the front desk for a free sample.
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Cut Clutter, Create Possibility!
While clutter might seem somewhat inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, you'd be wise to consider the feng shui take on an untidy space. According to principles of this ancient Chinese art, clutter prevents chi (positive energy or life force) from flowing throughout your home. Clutter contributes to feelings of being stuck or of being unable to relax in your home. The mere act of clearing clutter can renew your life by releasing negative emotions, and allowing you to create space for the things you want to achieve.
Here are three simple steps to take to cut down on the "Stuff" that gets in your way (literally and figuratively!):
Step 1-Commit. Every day, take small steps towards reducing the material burden in your home. Don't try to do it all at once or you are likely to succumb to extreme overwhelm! Instead take an afternoon to focus on one corner of one room and move on from there. In a few weeks, your home will be a lot neater and it won't feel like it was a burden.
Step 2-Keep, Toss, Donate. Create boxes for each of these to make it easier to categorize your things. By sticking to this method, you merely need to deal with the "Keep" box when you're through.
Step 3-Stay Detached. (Or as detached as humanly possible!) Sentimentality or a sense that "I'll need this someday..." are likely the reasons you're walled in by clutter, so it's important to stay focused on the task at hand. This only works if you can be ruthless about what you keep. If you haven't worn it, used it, or looked at it in the past year, it should go. No exceptions!
When you have completed your task, you'll want to look into some simple organizing systems-file cabinets, decorative boxes, bins, etc.-to contain the important things that made the cut.
As Leo Babauta so eloquently puts in his book, The Power of Less, "Simplifying isn't meant to leave your life empty-it's meant to leave space in your life for what you really want to do." Out with the old, in with the new-and improved! By clearing space you'll be making room for wonderful things to flow in.
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