Natural Body Guru

Sagging skin causes wrinkles. Wrinkles cause us to look old. What woman wants to look old? Firm up your skin naturally and retain your youthful look.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In this case you can prevent or delay additional sagging by avoiding too much exposure to damaging UV rays. Exercise also helps because it increases blood circulation which strengthens skin. For extra fighting power use skin tightening facial products, such as tightening masks and moisturizers before bed.

If your sebaceous glands are not producing enough oil to keep it healthy, your hair probably looks dry and flyaway. The protective oils produced by your hair are essential for protecting it from the elements but exposure to sun, wind, heat, and chemicals can damage hair, leaving it frizzy.  Split ends, broken shafts and a rough texture are all signs that your hair is lacking a sufficient sebum coating.

Ways to repair dry hair include:

• Using a very gentle natural shampoo followed by a cream conditioner that you leave on your hair (not your scalp) for several minutes
• Avoiding the use of chemical products such as hair dye and styling products because they can be very harsh on hair and wearing a hat if you’re going to be out in the sun, and a swimming cap if you’re going to be in chlorinated water
• Adding a few drops of oil (coconut, jojoba, olive oil, etc) will give protective moisture to hair if you simply place a few drops  in your hands, rub your hands together and then work through your hair to give it a light sheen
• Drying hair on the low or coolest setting if you must blow it dry
• Combing your hair in the shower with conditioner in it because this is the time your hair is at its smoothest and strongest; otherwise, use a boar bristle brush, which will be more gentle and less likely to tear hair, as well as helping to distribute oil through the hair
• Washing your hair less often and using a weekly deep conditioner
• Having your hair trimmed if you are experiencing split ends- at least 1/2 inch above the splits

Most men are not very concerned with their skin until there is a problem that needs solving. Whether you are male or female, the first thing people notice about you is your face so here are a few tips to ensure that your skin stays healthy and you look good.

• Cleanse by washing your face daily with a natural soap like Dudu-Osun Natural Black Soap. It not only cleans but also exfoliates so that you get a deep cleansing and your pores stay clear and your face looks healthy.
• Tone your skin with a natural astringent containing 1 ounce witch hazel, 3 ounces distilled water, 1 teaspoon cider vinegar and the following essential oils: 2 drops juniper berry, 1 drop lime, and 1 drop grapefruit. This mixture must be shaken each time you use it.
• Moisturize your face daily with a natural moisturizer that contains no alcohol or fragrances.
• Protect your skin by: avoiding overexposure to the sun, eating healthy, staying in shape with exercise, and steering clear of alcohol, smoking, fatigue and stress.

We are continuing our discussion of  using massage as a valuable method of applying essential oils to aid in the aromatherapy healing process. In previous blogs, we have discussed which essential oils to use for sore or fatigued muscles (see Essential Oil Muscle Relief). You can always look at the archived blogs if you have any questions. Now, let’s look at what kind of aromatherapy massage (aromassage) to use for different parts of the body.

• Shoulders – aromassage into the shoulder muscles with both effleurage and petrissage movements. Make firm strokes from the shoulder to the neck and back again using thumbs and palms.
• Arms – aromassage up towards the armpit, using effleurage or petrissage on the fatty or muscular areas only.
• Back – Use firm or gentle effleurage or petrissage but do not massage over the vertebrae. Start from the lower part of the back and with both hands stroke all the way to the shoulders. Slide your hands over the shoulders and then return down the sides of the back. Repeat these strokes as many times as you like, the longer you aromassage, the more relaxing it is.
• Abdomen – only use circular movements on the abdomen and move in a clockwise direction. Effleurage is the best method to use on the abdomen.
• Legs – use effleurage to aromassage the legs and always move upwards. You can use petrissage on the fatty or muscular areas only but not over varicosed areas.
• Women’s reproductive problems- aromassage using effleurage movements beginning at the lower back and sliding over the hips. Then slide each hand over the abdomen separately and repeat the whole process.
• Feet – aromasssage from the toes to the heel with the thumbs under the foot and the fingers on top.

All massage should flow as the blood does, toward the heart. After an aerobic workout, aromassage is useful to release toxins and keep your muscles supple.

Using massage is an excellent way to apply aromatherapy essential oils to the body as part of an alternative healing process. It is not hard to do and anyone can do it for family, friends, even for yourself. There are several different methods you can use to massage aromatherapy essential oils into the body:

• Effleurage – this is a series of gentle, soothing strokes which allow essential oils to penetrate your body and help you to relax and become calm. For this method, use your whole hands in  either long or short strokes that can be either firm or gentle.
• Petrissage – is similar to gently kneading dough. Use the palm, finger tips and thumbs to slowly and gently knead the body. Petrissage is most helpful when used on fatty areas and on backs.
• Head massage – put the essential oils  on your fingertips to massage the scalp. Work the fingers all over the scalp.
• For migraine and headaches – massage around the base of the neck and work your way up to the base of the scalp. Massage in this manner for a few moments with firm effleurage strokes.
• For the neck – massage the neck using small, firm circular movements from the base of the neck, up either side of the vertebrae to the base of the scalp. Massage the sides of the neck and repeat these movements in a more gentle fashion and work your way down the neck. Repeat several times using appropriate essential oils.

We put makeup on our faces and go to the gym to keep our bodies in shape but if we don’t take care of our hands all that is a waste of time. The first place that shows age spots is your hands and add that to loose wrinkled skin on the backs of your hands and your hands are telling everyone that you are older than your beautiful face looks! If you work with your hands a lot, this stretches the skin even more and everyone exposes their hands to dirt, grease, grime, heavy detergents, and dish soaps etc. everyday. We really should wear rubber gloves when we do this kind of work with our hands but I don’t bother with it, do you?

Essential oils can help you keep your hands looking their best. Couple your essential oils with a good hand cream and you’ll have the whole family using your hand cream very quickly. Use any of the following essential oils with your hand cream and your hands will look their best in no time: rosemary, geranium, sandalwood, patchouli, lavender, rose, lemon, lime, or carrot. You might want to price the essential oils first because you don’t have to use an expensive one.

You can also mix the hand cream as you use it by putting some cream in your hand and adding one or two drops of the essential oil of your choice as you go. I like to use geranium usually because it smells so nice but if I have a cut or scrape (I’m a klutz in the kitchen) I often use lavender essential oil. Any of the oils mentioned above will work to make your hands as beautiful as the rest of you.

My 19 year old granddaughter is deathly afraid of needles and refuses to go to the dentist for that reason. Needless to say, she now has gone from a toothache to an abscessed tooth. When things get that bad, (she says the tooth has been painful since she was 16,) I think the best thing for her to do is to go to the dentist and have that tooth removed; but first she has to get the swelling and infection out of the area. Her jaw is so swollen it looks like she is holding a ping pong ball in her mouth!

If you have an abscess, your white blood cells are rushing to an area of your body where bacteria has collected. The white blood cells are your body’s defense mechanism against bacteria and infection. To treat abscesses, make a compress and use 2 drops lavender, 2 drops tea tree, and 3 drops chamomile. Apply the compress to the swollen area twice each day until it is gone. Other oils you can substitute are eucalyptus, lemon, or juniper.

For a dental abscess, put 1 drop of chamomile on a cotton ball and apply it directly to the abscess. Rub your jaw and cheek with 3 drops of lavender and 2 drops of tea tree diluted in a teaspoon of sweet almond oil. Other essential oils that are good to treat dental abscesses are lemon, geranium, bergamot and myrrh.

Another name for shea butter is “women’s gold” because the job of  extracting the butter from shea nuts gives employment and income to many rural African village women. Shea butter is used in foods and cooking as well as soaps and beauty products because it is so safe and beneficial. It also contains natural ingredients that protect skin from the sun.

African women and healers have known about and used shea butter for thousands of years. Its properties are so amazing it is almost magical in its healing effects on burns, skin conditions, ulcerated skin, stretch marks, and dryness. The vegetable fats in shea butter promote cell regeneration and circulation making it a superb revitalizer for troubled or aging skin.

The face is by far the most common area for wrinkles to appear on your skin, and unfortunately, these wrinkles are also the most noticeable. To reduce the appearance of existing wrinkles and prevent future wrinkles, it’s best to use a skin tightening cream. This cream will work to firm and tighten the skin underneath and around the eyes and near the mouth (the most common areas wrinkles appear). It’s also a good idea to take precautions to prevent wrinkles by reducing your exposure to the sun, and ensuring that you wear sunscreen whenever outside.

It’s impossible to prevent and remove wrinkles forever, but by taking care of your skin, you will have more years of youthful radiance. It’s better to start when you’re younger than older. When you’re older, chances are the wrinkles have already appeared. You are no longer working just to prevent wrinkles, but also to reduce their appearance. The earlier you start using skin tightening cream and promoting safe practices, the better!

There are many skin care products out there that are best left to the professionals.   Salt and sugar scrubs, on the other hand, can be made quite easily in your kitchen. For those of you who enjoy homemade products and custom scents, here’s your opportunity.  Scrubs are a way to gently exfoliate your body and promote healthy skin. They can be used before or along with your bath or shower.

The first thing you need to decide is whether you prefer salt or sugar.  Those with sensitive skin often do better with sugar, which is more gentle and melts away faster in warm water.  Then, it’s time to collect your ingredients.

The basics of the recipe are sugar or salt, food grade oil (such as jojoba, grapeseed, or avocado), and essential oils.   You can use a variety of different oils depending on your skin’s needs. For example, grape seed oil is slightly astringent and great for oily skin, while sweet almond oil is great for dry skin that needs a lot of moisturizing.  You might also choose to use a bit of honey, especially in sugar scrubs, to help smooth out the texture of the scrub.  You can get creative with seasonal scents, or even add some coffee crystals for a little extra wake-up power in your shower.

Here’s a sample recipe:

8 cups salt OR sugar (raw or light brown)

2 cups jojoba oil

1/2 cup avocado oil

Your choice of essential oils (a few drops)

Honey for texture

Slowly mix the oils into the sugar or salt. You are aiming for a consistency that is wet, yet allows you to ball it up without it dripping back through your fingers.  Add honey and/or more oil as needed.  When you have achieved your desired texture, mix in your essential oils.

Note: be sure to use pure essential oils and not fragrance oils which are often synthetic and can be highly irritating.