Mud Baths

Mud therapy also known as fungotherapy has been used for centuries in Europe to treat rheumatism and skin conditions. Today we can still find people enjoying its benefits in nature like in Israel at the Dead Sea or in various spas around the world. Some spas offer a bath uniquely filled with warm mud while others add some mud to a hot bath. It is also possible to experience it as a body wrap. The mud can be composed of peat moss, water from hot springs, volcanic ashes and its remineralizing qualities can help with a variety of ailments.

4 Types of mud

Moor:

This mud has a p.h level of 5.5 and can be found in the plains or in the mountains. The mountain mud will be more remineralizing because it contains water that has picked up the richness from the surrounding rocks while the mud from the plains is enriched with about 1500 plants depending on the area.

Marine:

Extracted from the sea 20 to 50 meters from the shoreline to avoid pollution, it is enriched with marine vegetation.

Thermal:

Found in hot springs the minerals in this mud will vary according to the region.

Volcanic:

Like the name says, it is found in volcanic regions and its richness come from volcanic ashes.
The Benefits of mud

Mud can help with joint and muscle problems like tendonitis and bursitis and its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce swelling and soothe arthritis symptoms. It has a great effect on skin by getting rid of dead skin cells, rehydrating the epidermis, healing scars and soothing eczema and psoriasis. Its detoxifying properties can aid in clearing acne and cellulite. It also works at improving circulation for heavy legs, edema, phlebitis and varicose veins. Floating in this substance can be a very relaxing feeling and calm nervous tension and stress.

We can experience the richness from the earth via this therapeutic mud.

Swimming in volcanic mud in Colombia

Lymphatic Drainage Massage for Fibromyalgia

Lymphatic drainage massage is to be considered if you suffer from fibromyalgia. This technique involves light pressure that will encourage the lymph to go to the lymph nodes so that the cleaning process of the body can be stimulated. The light pressure that is used can be very enjoyable for the painful body of a fibromyalgia sufferer.
Why they will benefit

A lot of medication: People with fibromyalgia sometimes need to take a lot of medication to ease their symptoms. These drugs that are in their systems can cause other problems leading them to take other pills for these. Before they know it, they have a full medicine cabinet and are stuck in a vicious circle. Lymphatic drainage can help them clear out the accumulation of these substances therefore decreasing the side effects that come with ingesting them. It can also come in handy when they are trying to wean themselves of a medication that they didn’t find particularly helpful. Before stopping any medication they should however verify with their doctor for tips on how to do this properly. Lymphatic drainage will be used as a treatment to facilitate this process.

Digestive problems: With all the medication, stress and anxiety that comes with having fibromyalgia the digestive tract can take a beating. Our emotions can put our stomachs in knots and the pills make it work hard to clear out the unnatural matter that comes with them. The digestive organs are surrounded with lymph nodes in charge to keep these ones clean. Lymphatic massage will come stimulate these areas in order to clear them up and assure their proper function. A clear stomach that is detoxified from medication can in turn clear the mind.

Pain Management: A person with fibromyalgia can be very sensitive and the thought of a deep massage might scare them. Lymphatic massage is however a very gentle technique. The light pressure of the therapist will work the body and the nerve endings that pick up on this sensation will replace the message of pain with one of delight. Lymphatic drainage will also reduce inflammation and work out lactic acid that comes with aches and pains.

Reducing Stress: Like many types of massages, lymphatic drainage can be very relaxing. Going for a treatment is a moment we take for ourselves and where we can detach from our everyday stresses and lose ourselves in the rhythmic motions of the therapist.
Is this treatment for me?

This is recommended if your fibromyalgia is very acute and you can’t handle the pressure of a massage or if you are feeling the effect of a lot of medication.

Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic Drainage for Cellulite
Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Reflexology for Fibromyalgia

Bamboo Massage

Hhhhhmmm!!!! Interesting name. Sounds exotic but what does this consist of? Well as the name says, it’s a massage. As for the bamboo part, we can find a variety of different size bamboo sticks used as tools by the massage therapist to apply a good pressure to the tight aching muscles with barely any effort.

What to expect during the treatment

The therapist will start by applying oil to the entire body without massaging. In close range, he will have handy his bamboo sticks (the half pint, the middle man and the shorty). These vary in size and will be switched from one to another depending on the size of the client or the area to be worked on. The treatment starts off with long stokes. Large surfaces are covered with one glide to prepare the body fully for the work to come and to allow the therapist to evaluate the tense areas. Some long stokes are static, the stick does not move but is however moved by the therapist. Others strokes consist of gliding the stick and giving it either a half or full roll or adding a vibration movements. All these techniques can also be applied to short strokes where the therapist will concentrate on one area of a segment. Example, working the calf of the leg. Fanning strokes can be used to work the sides of the body. The therapist will mobilize one end of the stick and move the other end in a full range resembling a fan opening up. They may also use the tip of the stick to target specific knots really digging in to them or to strip away tension from a specific muscle.

Who would like this?

If you like a massage with good pressure that really digs into the muscles this treatment is to be considered. These tools allow the therapist to work hard without any effort. Their weight is simply transferred onto your body via the bamboo.

Sea Shell Massage

Finding a spa in nature at San Antero volcano

When I was planning my trip to Colombia, I started doing some research on sites to see. One thing that I came across was the San Antero volcano. This grabbed my attention. As I started to look more into it, I saw pictures and videos of people swimming in a pit of mud. Working in a spa, I am very aware of all the benefits of all different types of mud, but being in an area where volcanic mud is hard to come across I did not have the opportunity to try this one out. I told my boyfriend, who was also my tour guide that I had to go there.

We left his town early in the morning and after 2 buses and riding in the back of a truck we finally arrived to our destination. I know that mud is very remineralizing and it can help with all kinds of inflammations, muscle and joint pains, and it does wonders for skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. In my case, I had a wicked sun burn from spending time at the beach a few days earlier and I was anxious to see the healing mud work it’ s wonders on me.

As we walked up a hill, we arrived to the entrance of the pit. We were the clean people walking in to a population of muddy people. Anxious to join the fun, we quickly found a spot to put our stuff and got into our bathing suits. Our major concern was how much we would sink in this pit but looking at the crowd, nobody seemed to be drowning. To enter, we had two options, either jump in from up high or go in slowly, holding to cords as to not to slip and fall. Since we still weren’t convinced on the sinking part, we opted to go in slowly.

As I was making my way into the pit, I was crossing muddy bodies looking for a hand to help them out. It didn’t take long for my clean body to become dirty. I finally made my way to the surface of the mud and dipped one foot it. Ohh!! Warm and slimy, I thought, but very nice, enough to convince me to submerge myself fully. Once all in, I used the chords that ran across to pull myself towards the center. Because the mud was so thick, this ended up being quite the workout and I was once again reassured that I wouldn’t sink. In the center the mud was a bit cooler, probably because there was less action here. On the hand, it made it the perfect place to relax. I was enjoying the feeling and decided it was time to cover my face and hair. It didn’t take long for the mud to dry up in these areas but I knew it was a good thing because it was working at pulling out all the toxins. After about 30 minutes we decided to start making our way out knowing that it would take some work. It was now our turn to rely on the incomers for a helping hand.

Once out, we started removing some of the layers of mud with our hands. This mud had literally gotten everywhere and it was time to head over to the showers. Once there, I was greeted by a woman that offered to wash me for a tip. I hesitated at first, feeling funny to have other people doing things for me but quickly realized that if I was alone working to clear off the mud, it would take too much time and I’d be holding up the line. As I stood under the stream of water, she started to give me a complete scrub down. If the mud alone wasn’t enough to increase the circulation in my legs, her vigorous hands would certainly help.

When I was all cleaned up, my boyfriend noticed that my face was slightly red. I could feel it tight and tingly, which made me feel that it was working. The heating sensation I had from my sunburn was alleviated and the swelling came down. I noticed my skin went from raw burnt to flaking and healing the days following this treatment. My experience has made me a believer of the healing properties of San Antero’s volcanic mud.

Sea Shell Massage

Throughout history sea shells have had importance in many cultures. They once have been used as currency in the Indian and Pacific oceans as well as America, Africa and the Caribbean. Because of their shape, they made great tools used as scrapers, blades and shovels. They are also believed to have very good healing energy and are a strong symbolism in many religions of the world. Today, you can go to a massage therapist who will use a variety of shells as tools to work out your tension and hopefully you will benefit from its healing powers.

What to expect during the treatment:

This treatment consists of a Swedish massage where the therapist will use cone scallops and fan shaped shells with all their different texture as a tool to work your knots and tension. The different contours can be used in a variety of different ways to offer a deep penetrating massage. The massage therapist could use the shells cool or warmed up in hot water. The hot shells could be placed in different areas on the body for concentrated heat or passed along the members, back and neck to increase circulation on an entire area. They might also pour a few drops of essential oils onto the hot shells that have been placed on the body to bring in the added benefits of aromatherapy.

The Benefits to this treatment:

This massage can have therapeutic effect on the muscles. The shells can be used to penetrate deeper and if they are warmed up, they can relax tight, achy muscles and offer pain relief. Using the shells hot will also increase blood circulation which will have a ripple effect on the lymphatic system ridding the body of toxins like lactic acid and helping with circulatory problems. This treatment can also be very relaxing, therefore reducing stress, anxiety and even helping with insomnia. Also, the texture of certain shells can offer a slight exfoliation that will take care of dead skin cells.

With all these benefits how could you not enjoy the healing powers of the shells?

Foot Bath Recipes

Foot baths are really easy to prepare and beneficial for simply relaxing or for helping all kinds of problems. You can use a foot bath machine or simply a large bowl and add water, a few ingredients from the kitchen and/or aromatherapy to aid your feet. Below you will find a few suggestions for different recipes to work on various foot ailments.

Ginger foot bath

Good for cleansing the feet, it can help clear up infections and fungal conditions like athlete’s foot.

Ingredient
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger root
• 3 liters of hot water
• 1 once of dried sage
• 1 once of dried rosemary
• 20 drops of tea tree essential oil

Instructions
1. Chop onion and garlic finely. Grate the ginger root. Heat water in a large sauce pan and add the onion, garlic and ginger. Let simmer gently for 5 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse for 10 minutes. Stain the liquid into a foot bath and let cool for about 4 minutes. Add the tee tree oil to the foot bath.
3. Soak your feet in the bath for about 20 minutes with a towel over your feet and the bowl. This will keep the heat. Then pat your feet dry, taking care to dry thoroughly between your toes.

Peppermint lavender foot soak

Good for soothing aches, removing odours, and softening skin.

Ingredients
• ½ a cup of Epson salts
• 5 drops of peppermint oil
• 3 drops of tea tree oil
• 3 drops of lavender oil

Instructions
Put all the ingredients to a foot bath filled with hot water. Soak feet for 10-15 minutes. Dry properly and moisturize.

Honey foot soak

Good for soothing feet it is antiseptic as well as relaxing.

Ingredients
• 1 cup of honey
• 1 gallon of warm water

Instructions
Mix the honey to the warm water in a foot bath. Soak for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!!!!

Bath Recipes
Herbal Bath Recipes

Breathing Methods and Their Benefits

Most people don’t take the time to breathe properly. Their breaths are quick and short. Most of the time, they are not even conscious of their breathing at all. Full, deep, relaxed breaths are very beneficial to our health and taking the time to do this can help us with a variety of problems. For example, oxygen is very important for our cells health, and they rely on us to bring it in via our lungs and through the blood system. Also, when we take deep breaths, our diaphragm is lowered into our stomach and encourages digestion. This allows us to eliminate properly. When we take the time to breathe properly, we can also ease stress and anxiety. The deep breaths allow us to slow down our heart rate there for calming us down. Working on these systems with breathing can help with a variety of problems. Below you will find different breathing exercises as well as their benefits.

Before Starting:

Find a comfortable place with no distractions. Allow yourself at least 15 minutes to practice.

Cleansing breath oxygen intake, bringing clarity to the mind and improving concentration:

• Take one deep inhalation
• On the exhalation, sharply contract the abdominals to push all the air out. Breathe through the nostrils making a sighing sound.
• Relax the abdominal and take another deep slow inhalation. Repeat these steps 10 to 20 times.
• After inhale and exhale normally. Inhale once again and hold your breath for as long as it is comfortable. Slowly exhale and pay attention to your mind.

Alternate nostril breathing for soothing the nervous system and calming the mind:

• Put your thumb your thumb and index finger on the side of your nose at the base. Press down on the left nostril and inhale.
• Clip the nostrils together and hold your breath for a bit.
• With you index finger press down on the left nostril and exhale through the right.
• Now inhale through the left nostril keeping pressure on the right one.
• Now exhale through the right nostril while putting pressure on the left.
• Repeat this series 3-5 times, as you get better you can work your way to 20.

Cooling breath for purifying the blood, quenching thirst and stimulating the liver and spleen:

• Stick out your tongue and curl up the side to make a tube. Breathe in as if you are sucking air through a straw.
• Bring your tongue to your palate and hold your breath for a few seconds.
• Exhale through your nose.
• Repeat 3-5 times.

Bee breath for calming the mind, helping pregnant woman prepare for labor and improving the quality of the voice:

• Contract the upper part of your wipe and inhale smoothly but with force.
• Exhale smoothly through both nostrils.
• Repeat 5-10 times.

Victorious breath for strengthening the nervous system, relieving tiredness, removing excess phlegm, gas or bile.

• Exhale deeply and expand the chest for a deep inhalation.
• Contract the back of your throat in order to narrow the air passage.
• Compress the abdominal and expulse as mush air as possible.
• Repeat 5 times.
• Finish by taking 5 normal deep breaths holding your breath between inhalation and exhalations.

Jewel city breathing for cleansing the lungs, improving circulation, bringing clarity to the mind and increasing energy.

• Take deep inhalations and exhalations for 1-2 minutes.
• On an exhalation bring the naval toward the spine.
• On the inhalation bring relax the muscles around the naval and imagine energy coming into your naval.
• Repeat 5-10 times.

With these exercise you will be forced to take the time for yourself and breathing properly. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you.

Aromatherapy for Anxiety
5 Steps To Manage Stress And Anxiety

A Naturally Clean Home with 1 Aromatherapy Blend

Cleaning your house naturally can save money, help the environment, and is a lot easier then you think. Essential oils can allow us to clean and disinfect our house as well as avoid all the toxins from traditional cleaning products. Below you will find an aromatherapy synergy and a cleaning routine for it.

Aromatherapy Synergy for House Cleaning:

• Grapefruit: anti-infectious, anti-septic, disinfectant.
• Tea tree: antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.
• Lavender: disinfectant, anti septic, anti fungal.

In 1 dropper bottle, mix equal amounts of each essential oil.

The cleaning routine

In the Kitchen

• In a bowl of hot water add 5 drops of the mixture; soak a cloth in the solution and begin the total wipe down. Wash cupboards, oven, sink and so on.
• If you are doing a big clean up you can also clean the inside of the fridge with this mixture.
• To clean the micro-wave, you can take the bowl of water and place it inside and set the timer for 1-2 minutes depending on strength. What is important is that there is steam created inside. When the timer has stopped let sit for 5 minutes, then come back and remove the bowl, making sure not to burn yourself. Take a cloth and wipe off the dirt, it should just fall off.
• To give the house a fresh clean smell, add a few drops to a pot of water and place on the stove on medium heat.

In the living room

• Simply add a few drops of the blend to water and do a complete wipe down.

In the bathroom

• Add a few drops to a bowl of hot water and wipe down everything saving the toilet for last.
• Add a few drops inside the bowl and let sit for a bit. Finish by passing the toilet brush and flushing.
• Take a bit of toilet paper and make a ball. Add a few drops of the mixture on it and place inside the toilet paper roll so that every time somebody takes a piece the aromas are released.
• Place a few drops on a cotton ball and drop in the garbage can to mask the odors.

Cleaning the floors

• Add a few drops of the blend to a bucket of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar and wash floors as usual.

With this cleaning routine my house smells clean and fresh and my hands avoid contact with chemicals. I also find it cheaper because I only need to buy the oils to make this one mixture that lasts forever and I avoid buying 5 different products. I can see only benefits to cleaning this way and I highly recommend it.

Aromatherapy for colds
Aromatherapy for your emotions
Aromatherapy for aches and pains

Self Acupressure for Lower Back Pain and Sciatica

What is Acupressure

Acupressure is an ancient Chinese medicine derived from acupuncture. Instead of using needles to stimulate certain points it utilizes the pressure of the fingers, elbows, or various devices in order to stimulate different points along the meridians to release blocked energy. When the energy flows properly our health in general is improved and we can get relief from physical aches and pains as well as psychological disturbances. We can also do self acupressure in order to help various pathologies when we don’t have time to get to a professional or when we need treatment on the spot. Below you will find a suggested treatment that can ease lower back pain and help treat sciatica.

Before you start a self-acupressure session it is important to find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for about 20 minutes.

Self-acupressure treatment for lower back pain and sciatica:

1. At waist level, place the knuckles of both hands in your back and hold a pressure here for about 1 minute. This maneuver can be done sitting on a chair or by lying down on the ground.
2. Wrap your hands around your waist placing your thumbs in your back at about 4 finger lengths away from the spine. Once you have found this spot, apply pressure for about 1 minute.
3. Take 2 fingers and place them horizontally beneath the naval. Below these 2 fingers directly under the navel you will find your next spot. Press into this area while talking deep breaths. Work it for about 1 minute.
4. Place your knuckles half way between the base of the buttocks and the top of the hip bone about 4 fingers lengths away from the spine. Move your fingers to work the area for about 2 minutes.
5. Finish by pulling your knees in towards your chest. Hold this position for about 1 minute.

Taking time to do self acupressure can be important tool in helping you get some relief from your lower back pain and sciatica. I hope this will be helpful.

This article is for information purposes only and not intended to replace medical treatment. Those who are pregnant or that have health problems should check with their doctors or a trained professional before treating themselves.

Aromatherapy for Aches and Pains
Acupuncture for Back Pain

Stomach Massage Helps Anxiety

According to French osteopath and dietician Pierre Pallardy Anxiety can be treated through the stomach. He believes that there is a strong connection between the brain and the stomach via the vagus nerve. This nerve is the only one to start in the brain stem and it is responsible for various organs in the body including the stomach. Pierre believes that when our brain can’t deal with all the emotions and stress, our stomach suffers and vice-versa.

I think that most of us can relate to this theory. For example, when we are nervous we get butterflies in our stomachs, or when we feel lonely we tend to eat more, also when we go through a separation we eat less. When our emotions affect our diet we can end up having all kinds of digestion problems like constipation, diarrhea or nausea. When we have anxiety, stress, depression our stomachs can be upset for a long period of time. Massaging the stomach can be a great aid in helping the digestive system there for helping with anxiety.

Massaging the Stomach through Breathing:

This is a good way to start treating your stomach because it encourages relaxation. A person who has anxiety or stress tends to take short quick breaths of air. In today rushed world we don’t even take the time to breath. Taking deep full breaths is a very important in aiding digestion. When we inhale deep, it allows our diaphragm to go lower and go massing our intestines in order to activate digestion.
To do this, find a quiet area where you won’t be bothered and lay flat on your back so that you are comfortable. Place your hands on your stomach in order to feel the movement of each breath. Close your eyes so that you are concentrating only on this. Start taking deep breaths making sure that you are breathing with your stomach. If you are doing it correctly you will feel your hands being elevated. You can do this for about ten minutes trying to make each breath deeper than the first. Try to be conscious of your digestive organs (stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, intestines) as they are activated. You will know that it is working when your stomach starts making all kinds of noise.

Massaging the Stomach with Your Hands:

It’s best to start this after the breathing technique because you are more relaxed and ready to receive the massage. You can follow these simple steps.

• Start by doing a light effleurage over your belly. Take your right hand and make a circle going in a clock wise direction to follow the flow of digestion.
• Next, put both hands on the lower part of your ribs so that you thumbs arrive in the solar plexus. They will arrive on the stomach. With you thumbs, do semi-rotations all along this area pushing down towards your feet. Start from top to bottom and repeat a few times.
• From the previous position, bring your hands out more along the sides of your body with your fingers still on your rib cage and your palms on the side of your ribs. With your hands you will do a rotating movement going towards the center of your body and down to your feet. Repeat 10 times.
• Next, place the tip of your fingers on the left side of your lower abdomen at the inside of the iliac bone. You will now work the last part of the colon. With your finger do half circle pushing towards your feet. Start at the lowest part of the iliac bone and work your way up. Repeat 3 times.
• Now do the same movement across your belly at the height of the naval, but this time the pressure is from right to left.
• The last part of the colon is work on the inside of the iliac bone on the right side. The technique is still the same but this time the pressure moves up and towards the center of the body.

The best time to practice

Wait at least 2 hours after any meal. I suggest making this part of your bed time routine. It is a good way to relax before falling asleep and could help with insomnia.Also this will activate you’re your digestive tract so it works over night and in the morning it will allow you to evacuate all that was dormant in your system. However, these techniques can be done during the day when you have a moment and feel the need.

This article is for information purposes only. People with serious digestive problems such as chrome’s should check with their doctor first. If you are pregnant only a light effleurage should be done. Avoid all hard pressure and check with your doctor first.

Aromatherapy for Anxiety

Massage Therapy to Help for Anxiety- Tips from one professional to another

When I first started as a massage therapist and people would walk into my clinic complaining of anxiety, I simply thought they were really stressed and would give them a simple relaxation massage.

Being disappointed with my treatments, I started to do more research on the subject since I believe to really treat somebody well you really need to understand how they feel. I went on the internet and read a variety of books to get a basic idea but quickly decided to go right to source and ask my clients how they felt and what bothered them.

Today, when somebody says they have anxiety, I follow up with a series of questions. The first being: ” How do you feel your anxiety?” The answers can vary from ” I feel I can’t breathe, like I have a pressure on my chest.”, or ” out of nowhere my heart starts beating weird and it makes me panic.” I also hear about stomach complaints with phrases like ” My stomach feels all twisted and in knots and I seem to have indigestion” and ” my brain feels really foggy and I’m having a hard time staying focused.” All these answers lead me to believe that some very important points to work on should be the stomach, the head as well as taking some time to focus on breathing techniques.

This all made perfect sense to me. Anxiety, being a psychological disorder affects our mind making us unable to think properly and clearly( foggy head and unable to concentrate). Also, we all know that psychological disturbance can affect our stomach. For example, being nervous to put on a presentation can give us butterflies ( cramps ) in our stomachs, and when we live a stress out heart beat elevates and our breaths get shorter.

From this point on my simple relaxation massage became much more complex and the feedback from my clients has been extremely good.

How I do it:

Breathing:

At the very beginning of the treatment, I take a few minutes to get my clients to be conscious of their breathing and to take deeper and fuller breaths. After a few respirations I put a pressure on their on their upper chest, just enough to get them to work their breathing muscles and ask them to continue with their breathing. After, I move on to put a pressure on the sides of the rib cage using the same technique. When I stop applying the pressure, they are able to take bigger breaths with a lot less effort and their heart rate is slower. Taking the time to do this allows me to start the massage with a calmer and more receptive client.

The Head:

To relax the head I was inspired by Indian head massage techniques. This specialty offers a wide variety of manoeuvres that focus on the head, scalp, face, neck and shoulders and with a little touch of lavender it works wonders.To finish off this area, I like to go work the points at the base of the skull which are important pressure points in Asian techniques to help with anxiety and stress.

The stomach:

I massage the stomach as usual with the help of essential oils. I use peppermint for the intestines and rosemary for the liver to encourage digestion. I also like to use ylang ylang on the lower part of the stomach to stimulate the hormones which can put us in a better mood and relieve the anxiety. And last but not least, I take a bit of time to work the solar plexus with some lavender. This is where most people feel “knoted” and they enjoy the relief that it offers.

Taking the time to focus on these few points has made a tremendous difference on my clients. They feel like they got a relaxation massage with the added benefits of working targeted areas that really bothered them. I hope this article has been informative for other massage therapists and if your experience has thought you any tricks I would love to hear them. You can do so by leaving me a comment below.

Aromatherapy for your emotions
Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Treating your Feet with Aromatherapy

A lot of essential oils have properties that can be really helpful for treating many foot ailments or discomforts. Some oils have disinfectant, antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help with problems like nail fungus or athlete’s foot. Others are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic which can help with sore feet, arthritis and plantar fasciitis. We can also find oils that are antiperspirant which can help with foot odor and sweaty feet. Others can help repair cells and moisturize for those who have cracked heels.

Methods of Application

There are a few different ways to apply these essential oils to really treat your feet. For things like fungus and athlete’s foot you can apply certain oils directly to the problem areas. For aches and pains you can add some essential oils to a base oil and give yourself a massage. For sweaty, smelly feet you can add a few oils to a foot bath and to rehydrate your cracked heel s you can add a few oils to some cream and apply to the affected area.

Here are a few suggestions for self-treatment

Athlete’s foot:

• Prepare a foot bath with hot but not burning water and add 3 drops of lavender and 3 drops of tea tree. Let feet soak for 15 minutes then dry properly.
• Put 1-2 drops of tea tree directly on the affected area. Amount varies depending on the size of the affected area.

Arthritis:

• In 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil add 2 drops of pine and 2 drops of peppermint. Use the mixture to give yourself a foot massage. This should diminish the inflammation and relieve the pain.
• Add 3 drops of each to a warm foot bath and soak your feet for 15 minutes.

Cracked Heels:

• To a bit of emu oil, add 2 drops of lavender and 2 drops of tea tree and rub into the problems areas. When you are finished, put on a pair of socks to maintain the moisture.

Nail Fungus:

• Cut your nail and file it down a bit to have the problem area a little bit more exposed. Let drip one single drop of tea tree essential oil on the fungus. Repeat twice a day.

Plantar Fasciitis:

• In 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil add 2 drops of pine and 2 drops of peppermint. Use the mixture to give yourself a foot massage. This should diminish the inflammation and relieve the pain.
• Add 3 drops of each to a warm foot bath and soak your feet for 15 minutes.

Foot Odor:

• Add 2 drops of citronella, 2 drop of tea tree and 2 drops of lime to a warm foot bath and soak your feet for 15 minutes. Dry feet properly after.
• Add 3 drops of tea tree, 2 drops of citronella and 2 drops of lime to 2 table spoons of talcum powder. Mix together really well so that the oils are broken up into the mixture. Use a portion to pat on to clean feet and another to put inside your shoes. This could be good for a few uses.

Hope you enjoy these aromatherapy synergies to treat all your feet’s needs.

Please read the contra-indications and precautions.

This article is for information purposes and is not intended to replace medical treatment. If you are pregnant, nursing, have heart problem, diabetes or on any medication you should verify with an aromatherapist or doctor before using. Take special precaution with children and babies and verify with a specialist as well. It’s always best to start with an allergy before trying out essential oils.

Foot Bath Recipes

Reflexology for Anxiety

Somebody once told me that the best way to get out of your head is to concentrate on your feet. She then proceeded to talk about a meditation exercise for people with anxiety that suggests that they really think about their feet and how they feel while taking deep breaths. People with anxiety often feel like they can’t turn off their brains and over think everything that is going on in their lives. This technique allows them to take a moment to disconnect so that they can clear their minds.

Foot reflexology can be a great treatment for allowing people to do just this.

My first experience with reflexology was in my massage class. We had one day dedicated to this, to give us a bit of an introduction. I’m not the type to fall asleep during a massage, but there I was receiving my treatment from my classmate when all of a sudden I heard snoring. Hearing this sound brought me back just enough to realize that it was coming from me. Feeling embarrassed to be snoring I tried to fight it but this scenario kept going on as long as my partner was working on me. Is if possible, that me who has a hard time letting go (especially in a classroom full of people) actually completely disconnected from my surroundings and fell asleep? With reflexology, I would have to say yes.

After the treatment I was fully relaxed and decided to go for treatments regularly. I found it most beneficial when I was going through busy periods and had insomnia because the off button on my brain was broken when it was bed time.

When clients would walk into my clinic with anxiety and complaining of an overactive brain that would affect their sleep, I wanted to be able to offer them this service and the relief that comes with it. I decided at this point that I had to go take the class. I have been practicing for a few years now and my clients are as impressed with this treatment as I was. They feel instantly relaxed during the treatment and a majority of them fall asleep. Even those that don’t fall asleep during a massage can’t help it.

The reflexology sessions have an overall benefit on the body and mind, plus I like to take some time to work on certain points that benefit anxiety. Stimulating the head, gonads and solar plexus make for a more targeted treatment.

If you are struggling with anxiety, I strongly recommend reflexology as a good alternative treatment to help you out.

Massage for Anxiety

Aromatherapy in the Medicine Cabinet

The more I discovered about essential oils the more space they took in my medicine cabinet leaving less space for chemical drugs. At the same time, I found myself needing less space for chemical drugs because aromatherapy was gradually replacing the need to buy them.

Properties

When I had aches and pains, I could find essentials oils with analgesic properties that would dull the pain. When I was congested, I could find oils that were expectorant and helped clear up phlegm. If I had a muscle spasm, I would find an essential oil that was antispasmodic. If I had a cut, I could find oils that were antiseptic and others that were cicatrisant to help heal the wound. Others had calming properties which could soothe a burn, help with insomnia, stress or anxiety. And finally, others were digestive which could help with a wide range of indigestion problems. I just kept discovering more and more ways to use these oils that I got to the point where I haven’t bought chemical medicine in years.

Essential Oils

One of the oils that I can find in my medicine cabinet would be lavender. I use this in cases of burns, a bad cough, headaches, to heal scars or when I have problems sleeping I sprinkle a few drops on a tissue paper and place it inside my pillow case. Peppermint is very handy for headaches, indigestion or for relieving any type of joint, muscle or tendon pain. When a headache comes on, I put a few drops in some cream and massage my neck, the base of my skull and finish with my scalp. It instantly freezes the pain and allows me to continue with my day. For indigestion, I put a few drops in some massage oil and rub my stomach in a clock wise motion to encourage digestion. This oil will also relieve any pain that comes with having cramps. When I have allergies or a cold and I’m congested, I like to do a steam with peppermint and eucalyptus. Clearing my breathing passages from phlegm could also help with coughing. Tea tree has been a very useful oil in my medicine cabinet as well. It can be used to disinfect a fresh cut or wound by putting a few drops in warm water and soaking a cloth in this mixture to clean the affected area. It is also very good for treating athlete’s foot, nail fungus, boils, acne, psoriasis, eczema, lice and dandruff.

So there you have it, only 4 different essential oils that can help with a variety of common ailment.

This is for information purposes only. It is best to check with a physician or aromatherapist before starting any type of treatment for proper use. If you have heart conditions, epilepsy, are on medication, are pregnant or have any type of health problem s special precautions should be taken. It is always recommended to do a patch test with an essential oil to see if you are allergic before using it.

Aromatherapy for Aches and Pains
Aromatherapy for Colds
Aromatherapy for your Feet
Aromatherapy for Cuts and Scrapes