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In this world where we are constantly connected and on call we often lose sight of making time for self-care. Women and mothers especially sometimes see self-care as an excess or an indulgence. Fancy spa sessions are expensive and time-consuming, and while a long weekend at a yoga retreat may sound wonderful, it’s not a possibility for everyone.

Making time for self-care is so important, however. Having even a few minutes to yourself to feel good and relieve stress can improve your health, circulation, and attitude. A little pampering goes a long way and is an investment in your well-being.

Here are five quick and simple ways to add a little relaxation in just a few minutes during your shower that are fast and often free! (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - KonradLew

Aromatherapy is very well-known these days, and there is a multitude of scented candles and incense sticks and cones on the market available for any preference or mood. If you’re looking for a little bit of a challenge, however, or want to experiment in a new way with the range of fresh herbs available during the summer, making your own incense could be just what you’re looking for.

Below is an overview of making your own incense. There are numerous wonderful sites on the internet describing specific methods and ingredients for incense production. Scents of Earth has good information on incense making and the ingredients you’ll need. (continue reading…)

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If your feet could speak, they would probably complain that they do not get proper care and attention. So what do we do to keep them in tip-top shape? If you treat your feet with tender loving care and they will reward you with years of diligent, pain-free service.  Just follow simple steps for happy, healthy feet forever.

Wash your feet daily. Make sure to clean between the toes and under the nails. Completely dry your feet after bathing. Dry the places between toes too. Damp feet are breeding ground for bacteria and odor. (continue reading…)

Aloe Vera. Photo Credit: Steve Hillebrand, USFWS

Aloe vera is a popular plant that nearly everybody has heard of these days. It is renowned for its medicinal purposes. Although it looks like a cactus and likes to live in dry areas, it is actually a member of the lily family. The active substance is the jelly on the inside of the leaves and this is put into the many aloe vera drinks, capsules, creams, shampoos and other products that are available on the market. It contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients which lead to its potent medicinal abilities.

When drunk, aloe vera has citrus like flavor that some people like and some don’t, although the addition of fruit juice can make it more palatable. (continue reading…)

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In Coconut Oil, Friend or Foe Part 1, I discussed some of the unique properties of coconut oil.  In Part Two of this series, I have chosen to review some of my own personal experiences relating to the effects of what is being touted as nature’s “miracle” oil.

As a brief review, unrefined, virgin coconut oil, also called coconut butter, comes from processing the meat of the mature brown coconut.  Even though coconut oil is 92% saturated, it has no trans-fats and contains no cholesterol.  The fatty acids in coconut oil are medium chain fatty acids (MCFA’s).  These fatty acids are shorter than large chain fatty acids/triglycerides found in other fats and oils that are responsible for raising one’s cholesterol.  Large chain fatty acids take longer to digest and tend to be stored as stubborn fat, while MCFA’s are broken down very quickly and burned as fuel before they can be stored as fat.  Coconut oil contains a high concentration of lauric acid, which plays a key role in protecting the digestive tract by killing bacteria and viruses and is a potent anti-microbial agent.  Its health advantages further vary from metabolic miracle to a healing skin and beauty aid.

(continue reading…)

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Children get allergic reactions every now and then. Some children may be affected severely and some others may be mildly depending upon the sensitivity of the child. Symptoms of allergic reactions include sinus congestion, redness, skin rash, headache, difficulty in breathing, diarrhea or vomiting. Signs like vomiting, unconsciousness and obstructed airways require urgent medical attention.

The reactions generally come without any warning signs until the specific allergen causing allergic reaction is identified. However, identifying specific allergens or substance that cause contact dermatitis and a local skin irritation may be quite complicated. Physicians use patch tests to identify the offending substance.

Here are few natural remedies for some of the allergic skin problems common in children. (continue reading…)