A study by the University of Heidelberg found that peppermint essential oil was found to penetrate the skin and have a direct anti-viral effect against the herpes simplex virus. This essential oil was also found to be active against an acyclovir-resistant strain of the cold sore virus. 

That being said, there have not been enough studies to establish the safety of using Peppermint oil to treat cold sores.  Essential oils can be absorbed directly through the skin so even small amounts used improperly could be toxic and even fatal.  Essential oils should never be ingested!

Although this is great information one should first consult with a registered Aromatherapist before applying any essential oils to the body.

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Be well,

L

There are many ways to detoxify the body including drinking lots of pure, fresh water, exercising regularly, eating a well-balanced diet and spa therapy treatments such as detoxifying mud wraps or relaxation massage to flush out the toxins.

One area of “cleansing” that is being talked about more and more is the air we breathe.  Of course, going “green” is one of the ways our society is trying to better our air quality but did you know that our homes can also be a stomping ground for formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide?

I’ve recently learned that certain plants can help remove the above mentioned toxins and if placed throughout our homes, can improve our air quality.  These plants can be found all over the world and in your local plant shop so I’ve listed a few of them below for your interest.

Botanical Name:                    Common Name:
dracaena                             Warneckii
spathiphyllum                       peace lily
chamaedorea selfritzii            bamboo palm
aglaonema modestum            chinese evergreen
chrysanthemum morifolium    pot mum
hedera helix                         english ivy

If you do your research, I’m sure there are hundreds of plants to choose from that can help cleanse the air we breathe and as a bonus, plants send out positive energy and are a nice addition to any home.

Health & Prosperity,
L

Living here on the westcoast, we don’t get a heck of alot of sun during the fall/winter months so I figures I’d talk about the benefits of vitamin D and how important it is to our body’s organ systems.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin needed for normal growth of bone and enhances the immune system and cell production. Vit. D is produced when sterols in the body are irradiated by ultraviolet light (sunlight) and without it we can form deficiencies like brittle and fragile bones, diarrhea, insomnia, irregular heartbeat, low calcium, nervousness, pale skin, poor metabolism, rickets, sensitivity to pain and Osteoporosis to name a few.

If you live in a part of the world that lacks sunlight, you can  find vitamin D in fish, soy and dairy products fortified with vitamin D, as well as fatty fish like tuna, salmon, sardines, eggs, butter, organic milk, oatmeal and sweet potatoes to name a few.

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that adults should consider supplementeing with 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day during the fall and winter. They base this recommendation on the growing evidence for a link between vitamin D and a reduced risk for colorectal, breast and prostate cancers.

Another suggestion to increase your vit. d is to go visit a tanning salon during the cold/dark months of the year.  Personally I’m not a fan of tanning beds due to the UV damage that increases the aging process, but… I do think visiting a LOW level tanning bed once in awhile couldn’t hurt.

Now that you know a little more about Vitamin D, think about making it part of your health and wellness regime.  Of course, you should always consult with a physician before taking any supplements or making a lifestyle change that can effect your overall health!

Today I went in to see a massage therapist named Bev at the Inlet Wellness Gallery in Port Moody, BC (www.inletwellnessgallery.com), where I received a 1 hour massage session on my back, neck and arms.  I have to tell you that I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me and that the toxins and wastes that have accumulated throughout my body are being released as we speak.

My head feels a bit light but my body is warm and calm.  The stretching of my deltoids, trapeziums and sternocleidomastoid (to name a few), have allowed my blood and lymph to flow freely again in areas that have been tense and sore for days.  Not only does my body feel like tension has been released but my energy field is more balanced as well.  Because of this I thought I’d write a little blurg on the benefits of massage and the effects that is has on the body, mind and spirit. 

Massage Therapy can help:

• alleviate pain
• reduce stress and anxiety
• acitivate oxygen flow and nutrients (blood) in the tissues
• enhance immunity
• remove toxins and wastes from the body (lymph)
• with quicker recover times
• increase flexibility
• reduce muscle cramps and spasms
• relax and sooth tired and sore muscles
• reduce swelling (oedema)
• relieve headaches (migraines)
• improve posture
• increase metabolism

Now if you told me that massage therapy can help even one or two of these ailments I’m sold!  In my opinion, everyone should make it a priority to put some money aside and visit your local massage therapist to be taken care of, if only for an hour.  :)

For thousands of years many cultures had different techniques and products used for nail care maintenance.  Of course there have been many advancements since ancient times and in today’s salons and spas we have continued the tradition with manicures, spa manicures, pedicures, spa pedicures and many other forms of nail care services that are offered to the public.

It’s interesting how our fingernails play such an important role within our society as part of our “image” for both men and women yet most of us have no idea about fingernail physiology and nail care.  Many of us naturally look at a person’s hands when we first meet someone and a lot of us will judge that person by the look of their hands and nails.  

If a personal has rough, dry, cracked cuticles and nails one could assume that they are a laborer while another can have clean, hydrated beautifully manicured nails and some would assume that they are in the corporate world, even though that may not be the case at all.

Whatever the reason, I feel it’s important to take care of the whole body including our hands and nails which is why I’d like to talk a little bit about nail physiology and maintenance today.

Our fingernails are composed of a hard protein substance called Keratin that protects the tips of the fingers & toes and helps us to pick up objects.  Fingernails have an active tissue area called the matrix that effects nail growth and is located just under & below the area of the “half moon”.  The matrix creates cells that are pushed outwards from the nail root which makes the nails grow longer.  If you were too seriously damage the nail matrix due to injury or disease, that nail could become deformed or discolored permanently.

Nails grow at an average rate of 1/8″ per month in healthy adults and if you’ve lost a nail, it can take up to six months for it to grow back entirely.  Our toenails are normally harder and thicker than our fingernails and they grow at a slower rate.  If you were to lose a toenail, it can take up to a whole year to replace that nail, depending on your age.  Younger people have more cell production within the matrix making their nails grow faster while in older people the rate slows down.

Fingernails actually grow faster in the summer than in the winter and can be greatly affected by our health, nutrition and disease.  The longer the nail matrix, the faster the nail grows which is why our middle fingernails grow the fastest and our thumbnails grow slowest.

A cuticle is the skin surrounding the nail and plays an important part of the health of the nail.  If your cuticles become to dry, it can cause hangnails which are unsightly and painful.  A simple cuticle oil applied nightly can alleviate such issues, keeping both the nail plate and cuticle hydrated.

Manicures are the most beneficial way to keep our hands and nails looking and feeling great.  Whether you do manicures on yourself or in a salon/spa it should be part of your lifestyle.

So what the heck is a manicure anyway?  I will be writing about manicures in my next blog post, so stay tuned…

L

Well I’m finally getting the hang of this wordpress blogging stuff (I think?) so I’ll begin by saying “thankyou for visiting my blog”.  If you’d like to learn more about my company and services, please visit the website at www.beautyondemand.com for more information.

The purpose of this blog is to educate people on all sorts of topics relating to “beauty and wellness”.  I hope you find it interesting as well as informative and if you’d like to share any beauty and wellness tips, please leave a post…

There will be main topics like Nail Care, Skin Care, Wellness News, Beauty Tips and more so please check back often!  I will also post the latest Spa Promotions Beauty On Demand has to offer as well as new services that may be offered in the future.

Enjoy!

“Live one Day at a time”