My husband travels for business. I give him an herbal tincture to take on his trips to strengthen his immune system. This time, he got hit pretty hard. Look around, there are many many people catching colds, viruses, mystery illness and flus. Anyway, after a few days of him sleeping, resting, and fighting whatever it was that was winning the battle, I decided to disinfect the house with a vinegar, water, lemon and tea tree essential oil solution. I sprayed it all over the house - counter tops, toilets, shower, furniture, bedding. It made Jay and I feel so good and that the stagnant air and aroma around the house was lifted and refreshed! I also threw some baking soda on the counter tops and used the spray.
As I was scrubbing with this all natural solution to cleanse my surroundings, it occurred to me this was a great way to explain the benefits of scrubbing our bodies. I don't care if you are a man or woman, we all have different skin types of which could benefit from caring for our skin from time to time with natural products. You know if you work out in the sun for a living, your skin typically needs moisture and protection. If you are inside with recycled air your skin may be dry and also yearn for stimulation!
Aromatherapy is powerful. How often do you relate a song to a particular place or time? And how often does a scent remind you of a place or time? It is real my friends! As we inhale, smells travels across the olfactory nerves in the nose and up to the brain which triggers a reaction (this information is part of my Emilyisms book on recipes and tips). The essential oil is drawn into the lungs to provide physical benefits. So, back to the cleansing. It is just as important to clean off our skin. The skin is our largest layer and if you are really interested in a cleanse think about what you put into and onto your skin. Essential oils, oils, minerals such as salts, clay and mud allow our bodies to pull out toxins, tighten skin, rejuvenate cells and assist our body to stimulate, relax, calm, balance and more. I am just brushing the surface of my knowledge about cells but it appears these things are quiet important.
Cells are the building blocks of any living thing, plant and animal. Cells make up all known life. Every cell is produced from another cell by dividing and multiplying. Cells will be replaced when things break down or get worn out. Together they perform the functions of life. Since we are made up of cells and each cell has functions that ideally work together to form our healthy body, these cells are constantly wanting energy such as food, minerals, air, water, etc. So much of what is outside (our bodies) creeps its way inside (our bodies). Exfoliating can be a way to detoxify, rejuvenate and encourage new cell growth. There are also many environmental treasures in nature (for example, the beach, rain forests, green trees, parks) but also be aware of hazards.
There are many ways to 'treat' your skin, and as I was cleaning and scrubbing, I had this bizarre correlation between scrubbing the countertops to cleanse and scrubbing my body to cleanse. Imagine if the products were so pure they were practically the same. My body salts may include the following: baking soda, magnesium sulfate (otherwise known as epsom salt - this is a great product and can be found at many grocery stores and markets) and dead sea salts for the dry ingredients. You may opt to add a few lavender flowers or any other herb or flower of choice. The liquid could consist of one or a combination of oils and essentials oils. Add enough oil such as olive, sesame, grapeseed or a combination, then coat the salts. You can always add more if you want more oil. Essential oils are a bonus. Play around with your scents. Your body may crave a particular scent during a certain time of year or part of your life. Honor that request.
Get a brush and dry brush the dead skin off your body. Stimulate the lymphatic system. See how much you can tolerate- sometimes lighter and sometimes more aggressive with the brushes. Brush in circular movements and up towards the heart. Then exfoliate. You may also choose to exfoliate your body with the salts and oil and provide your face a clay mask. This will draw out toxins and tighten skin. Allow the oils to penetrate into the skin. The same for the mask. Allow to dry. About 20 minutes or longer. (Just about the time the needles need to work in your body during an Acupuncture treatment). Lightly pat yourself to dry. The essential oils, again, have so many medicinal properties. I make some that also repel bugs. So, after doing a luxurious spa treatment for yourself, you can hang outside and keep the bugs away! If you haven't already seen it, I posted a short video on making and applying a body scrub and mask. Check it out! bodyandmindenrichment.ning.com
Body and Mind Enrichment A unique way of exercising your body and mind!
